Target Competition Team Principal Andreas Gummerer paid tribute to his team’s tenacity to bounce back from adversity after securing the TCR Europe Teams’ title yesterday.
A maiden victory for Andreas Bäckman, secured after a five-second penalty for winner on the road Julien Briché, along with points for Domink Baumann and Mat’o Homola proved enough to seal the title for the runaway leaders ahead of Team WRT.
Gummerer admitted the title win was tinged with disappointment after Josh Files’ penalty dropped him from 2nd to 22nd in the corrected classification, but paid tribute to Bäckman on his maiden win.
“Yes we are very happy with the Teams’ championship but at the same time we are disappointed for Josh that he had his penalty in the race,” explained Gummerer.
“Andreas drove a great race and we are so happy for him for his first win, especially after Oschersleben.
“Despite having five cars this season, not everything went well every race. When there was a bad situation, we came back strong and that is important.
“[Andreas and Jessica] have been incredible this season. I am so happy for them because after the first test day, it was a little bit hard in the beginning but they have performed well and have tested a lot.
“They have been getting help from Josh as well, so it’s just been really good team work.”
Gummerer also suggested Files’ penalty should have 5 seconds, similar to Briché and Santiago Urrutia, and explained that a mix up in communications between Files and a marshal, plus an element of bad luck contributed to the situation.
Realising he was out of position, Files attempted to select reverse gear on his Hyundai i30 N TCR, but could not engage the gear nor complete a corrective manoeuvre before the race start.
“The marshal waved Josh to come forward [to his grid slot] and then Josh recognised he was in the wrong position and he tried to move back,” he explained.
“He was told to go backwards but the reverse gear was not entering. [Josh] tried, we have the data so I don’t know.
“If he got the 30-second penalty and he didn’t get the advantage because he wasn’t first into the first corner, then he should also have had a five-second penalty in my opinion.”
Files will start the reverse-grid contest from later this afternoon in 9th, with the race scheduled to start at 12:30 CEST.