Franco Girolami said he ‘could not be happier’ after finally securing the 2022 TCR Europe title in qualifying in Barcelona on Saturday morning, with Comtoyou Racing also securing all possible titles in the series.
Girolami had all but secured the title going into the event, thanks to the significant points margin he enjoyed over his only rival Josh Files.
It meant that the Argentine had little pressure on him to secure the title, and in qualifying he finally sealed the deal after Files failed to qualify on pole and Girolami put his Audi in fourth for the opening race.
The 30-year-old, having won the championship, then came home in third in the opening race, after getting by Volcano Motorsport’s Isidro Callejas at the start.
He was quick thank those who have supported him in 2022, including team-mate Viktor Davidovski, who has provided backing to Girolami’s campaign.
“I could not be happier,” said Girolami, who has already been on the podium eight times this year. “It is hard to believe, and I have to repeat it to myself: we are champions!
“I would really like to thank my family, Viktor Davidovski and the whole Comtoyou Racing team. From day one we have worked very hard for this moment.
“The team trusted me from the beginning and we never gave up, racing every race as if it was the last. I think that was the key and I have only one thing to say: thank you!
“I’m proud to be with such a professional team, and we deserved this title. We did a great job all year.”
Comtoyou Racing Team Manager François Verbist praised the team’s success in securing four championships – the drivers’, teams’, rookie and ‘diamond’ titles, the latter two coming for Marco Butti and Davidovksi.
“The 2020 season was already prolific with Mehdi Benanni’s Drivers’ title, Nicolas Baert’s Junior title and the Teams’ title. This time we have added the Diamond title to the other three,” said Verbist.
“It is a full house which rewards all the work we have done with Audi Sport on the Audi RS 3 LMS TCR.
“After a year of development in 2021 in the FIA WTCR, this was the first time the new car was used in TCR Europe and it is clearly a success.”