Target Competition’s Reece Barr says he will “get some luck eventually” and convert his pace into solid results, after he missed out on a potential podium following contact in race one at the Hungaroring.
The Irishman started fifth and leapfrogged teammate Duśan Borković at the start, before a slide at the first corner meant the Serbian won fourth position back.
From then on, Barr maintained fifth place, and stayed out of trouble until the last lap, in which he came to blows with Mikel Azcona and Stefano Comini as the trio went three-wide down into turn one.
“I got a great start, pretty equal to the Hondas which are really good at starts so I was pretty happy with that,” said Barr. “I had a bit of a slide in the first corner and Duśan [Borković] got me back on the exit. Then I just chipped away, waited for the tyres to come on, because obviously it was still pretty wet at the start, when a dry line starting appearing then I started pushing more.
“Eventually got up to fifth and I just consistently stayed in fifth for the majority of the race and then I got a good run off the last corner and I was past Azcona going into the first corner.
“I broke just on the limit, I felt ‘yes I’ve passed him’ and as well it was the last lap and [Julien] Briché got a penalty so it would have been a podium. I didn’t feel it – but looking at the video it looked like my rears locked up slightly and Azcona was turning in to try and get the cut back and we touched which was a bit unfortunate.
“One day we might actually get a bit of luck. But it was a really good race for me despite the last lap, everything was going my way. I was picking off positions so it’s unfortunate to end like that but we’ll get some luck eventually.”
Despite being forced to retire from the opening race, the damage to Barr’s Hyundai i30 N TCR is mainly cosmetic and will not threaten his participation in tomorrow’s reverse-grid race, from which he will start sixth.
“It’s actually not to bad, it’s just bodywork damage really – nothing too terminal. It was just the driveshaft which stopped me from coming back round.
“Hopefully tomorrow goes well for us – me and the Target guys – they’ve done a great job this weekend, we had a bit of damage in practice and they got it sorted pretty quick so big respect to those guys as well.
“So hopefully we can get a good result for all of us.”
Tomorrow’s race is scheduled to get underway at 11:50 CEST (10:50 BST).