Zengő Motorsport have pledged their future to the World Touring Car Championship, with the Hungarian team planning to enter two cars in 2017, according to Team Principal Zoltán Zengő.
The team took part in every race weekend of 2016 with at least one car, although Ferenc Ficza failed to take the start in the season opener in France due to engine issues.
The first half of the season saw a series of teething problems and frustrations for the 20-year-old, before he was joined by fellow Hungarian Dániel Nagy from Portugal onwards.
Team Principal Zengő has revealed that he hopes to continue with two TC1 cars in 2017, as the team plans to enter its eighth consecutive season in the WTCC.
“It is a great pleasure for us that we can race in a championship which really appreciates the enormous work we have done and values our team,” said Zengő. “Through the WTCC we became a member of the international racing society and it feels good that Zengő Motorsport is highly regarded and honoured in this family.
“We have built an excellent relation with the leadership of the FIA World Touring Car Championship and it can serve as a firm ground for our next success story.
“Our future is in the World Touring Car Championship so we are doing our best during the off-season to make it possible to field both of our TC1 Honda Civics in 2017, most likely with the same drivers: Ferenc Ficza and Dániel Nagy.
“François [Ribeiro] and the team of Eurosport Events give us all the necessary support and we are grateful for that.”
Ribeiro, the Head of Eurosport Events, thanked Zengő for their ongoing commitment to the WTCC, which has to-date yielded four wins and 23 podiums, currently all scored in the partnership with Norbert Michelisz.
“Zengő Motorsport has been a loyal supporter of the WTCC and a very successful one at that,” said Ribeiro. “The team discovered Norbert Michelisz playing online racing games in his bedroom and turned him into a double WTCC privateer champion. That led to a long-term factory Honda drive and he starts the 2017 season as a world championship contender.
“There’s no doubt about it that the work done by Zoltán and his team has played a big part in Norbi’s rise and Norbi is the first to recognise that.
“But rather than stop at Norbi, the team continued its passion for helping young and talented drivers by giving Ferenc Ficza and Dániel Nagy their big breaks while also helping Norbert Nagy in the ETCC.
“This approach and the success it achieves on the track has further strengthened Zengő Motorsport’s position as one of the leading touring car teams and we are very happy they are part of the WTCC and ETCC families.”
Article source: András Lantos (WTCCBlog.hu)