Mikel Azcona Wins TCR World Tour Race in China
Mikel Azcona dominates the opening race at the Zhejiang Circuit to widen his lead in the championship standings.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Motorsports
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Mikel Azcona claimed victory in the first FIA TCR World Tour race at the Zhejiang Circuit in China. By finishing over six seconds ahead of his closest challengers, he extended his overall points lead to 33.
Why it matters
The result significantly alters the championship dynamics as the season approaches its final stages. With his performance, Azcona has put himself in a commanding position over rival Santiago Urrutia.
Mikel Azcona finished more than six seconds ahead of Norbert Michelisz to secure his win. Azcona currently holds a 33-point advantage over Santiago Urrutia in the drivers championship.
The players
Mikel Azcona
Mikel Azcona is a professional racing driver currently leading the FIA TCR World Tour standings.
Norbert Michelisz
Norbert Michelisz is a competitive touring car driver who secured the fastest lap during the race in Zhejiang.
Santiago Urrutia
Santiago Urrutia is a championship contender who finished in third place at the Zhejiang Circuit.
Yann Ehrlacher
Yann Ehrlacher is a professional racer who exited the race early due to mechanical issues.
The details
Azcona secured the lead by overtaking pole-sitter Norbert Michelisz before the first corner, while Michelisz slipped to fourth after navigating off-track. Yann Ehrlacher was forced to retire on lap 15 following a tire puncture.
Timeline
The first FIA TCR World Tour race took place on October 24, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This victory reshapes the championship battle by creating a significant points cushion for Azcona. The result forces his closest rivals to adopt a more aggressive strategy for the remainder of the season to close the gap.
Azcona now holds a 33-point lead over Santiago Urrutia, significantly changing the math required for his rivals to secure the title. The reversed grid for Race 2 will see Norbert Michelisz starting ninth, likely requiring a high-stakes effort to recover ground.
The takeaway
Maintaining momentum in touring car racing often comes down to early-race aggression, as demonstrated by the crucial overtake at the start. Drivers aiming for the championship must now balance high-risk maneuvers with the need for consistent points finishes in the upcoming rounds.
What happens next
Race 2 is scheduled to start following the conclusion of the opening event, featuring a reversed grid where Norbert Michelisz will start in ninth position.
Further reading
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Source note: This article includes information reported by TouringCarTimes.
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