Home racer Dániel Nagy is hoping to score another podium in tomorrow’s reverse-grid race, after he finished in third position in the opening TCR Europe race at the Hungaroring.
Nagy started race one in seventh position and initially struggled for pace but came strong in the final two laps after the safety car restart, and gained from contact ahead of him.
He told TouringCars.Net that although he was happy to score a podium, he did expect to be at the sharp end based on his pace at his home circuit.
“It was a little bit expected because we started the race on slick tyres on what was like an ice hockey field! We were drifting and sliding in the first few laps, I got a very good start,” said Nagy.
“I was on the ideal line – the left side was better than the right at the start – I took two or three positions to arrive in T1. Then I made a mistake and after that, I dropped back a little bit and then I started to be on my pace.
“Before the middle of the race, I was struggling a bit to heat up the rear tyres and to find the ideal lines. The track was becoming more and more dry, so it was tough. At that moment I had to make a switch because otherwise I would drop back.
“I was very happy when they told me about the safety car and then we could go racing for two laps. I was fighting with Comini, and I lost a position against him but after that we arrived on the last lap at T1, and I saw three of four cars touching and going crazy. They wanted to brake later than I have tried in dry qualifying in the past! So I thought, okay I have to just make the corner. I had a lot of luck, they made contact.”
Despite scoring a podium, Nagy admits there is still work to do on his speed in mixed conditions.
“But we have to work a little bit, and I have to work on my damp pace, when the track is not dry and not wet,” he said.
“In the dry we are faster than the guys who will start ahead of me in race two. So the target is definitely to score another podium. We will see, but our race pace was very good in the dry conditions, so I expect a very good race. It’s the middle of the season, so to be a championship contender for the last event I have to have a very good race tomorrow.”
Nagy also feels bolstered by the home support provided by the fans in Budapest, and he was glad to give them something to cheer for in the opening race.
“The support is amazing. Whenever I come here, I can see guys coming to see me in my T-shirt and they are supporting, cheering, following me and a lot of them have been since the beginning of my career.
“So it’s been amazing to prove that I am here, I am competitive in the world’s best fields – in WTCR and here in TCR Europe as well.”