Tom Coronel is looking ahead to a good weekends racing in the TCR Europe series at Hockenheim after the DHL-backed racer made good progress in practice today.
Coronel, reunited with his Boutsen Ginion Racing-run Honda Civic Type R FK7 for the first time in 2019, finished the opening session around the 2.8-mile Baden-Wurttemberg circuit in 18th, before improving to 10th in the afternoon.
Speaking to TouringCars.net afterwards, Coronel explained some misfires hampered his progress during the mornings running, but is looking ahead to some good racing this weekend.
“Everything looked alright, it wasn’t easy. In the first free practice we had some difficulties with the car, we had some misfires but finally we solved the problem,” explained Coronel.
“But everything was alright, it was nice to be back in the Honda, I know the car a little bit because of last year. It’s a different feeling than the other car I’m driving, but it’s nice. I’m also back with the team I was racing with last year.
“It’s good to be in TCR Europe. I like to fight with a lot of cars, and that’s inside this championship.”
He also underlined how positive it is for him to run in two separate championships this season, dovetailing his commitments in the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) in a Comtoyou Racing CUPRA with his TCR Europe season in the Honda.
“Mileage always helps,” he said.
“I’ve never tested in my life, this is the first year I’ve had some test days with Comtoyou, and it makes you more sharp, more clever, and that’s how it works.
“But for me, it’s working well. You learn every weekend you’re in the car.”
“It’s quite funny, it’s two completely different cars. They’re supposed to do the same lap time, but it’s completely something else.”
Looking ahead to the two races in Germany this weekend, Coronel’s aim is to bring home his first silverware of the new season.
“It’s good to see how this championship has been run, it’s good to bring a trophy home, so I think that should be the goal. I expect some good fights and my son said ‘Papa, you have to bring a trophy home’, because he won one last week, so I’m now two behind, he’s putting me under pressure!”
Qualifying is set to get underway at 09:05 BST tomorrow [25th May].