TCR Europe points leader Mikel Azcona admits that he is hoping for rain in the weekend’s races at the TT Circuit Assen, as he does not believe his CUPRA has the pace to challenge at the front in dry conditions.
Azcona ended Friday’s free practice sessions with the 12th and tenth fastest times respectively, ending both sessions behind the majority of Honda and Hyundai cars in the field.
In second practice the Spaniard was the leading driver for CUPRA but found himself eight tenths off the pace.
Knowing that the CUPRA was ‘not the fastest car’ around the fast and flowing circuit, Azcona admitted that he was hoping for inclement weather at the Dutch circuit when it comes to the races.
“It’s like in all the meetings – we know the CUPRA is not the best car, but we need to make a fast car with what we have,” said Azcona to TouringCars.Net. “During the weekend we will improve the car and try different setups to make a fast car.
“We are around P10, one second from the pace, but this is our position. We cannot do more than this, because of the car.
“If it is raining then these are the best conditions for us, because I love the rain. I think in those conditions we are the fastest, so the best would be for wet conditions. We know that the Hyundai is faster, so we are going to do the race as best as can.”
Azcona was a second slower than chief rival Dušan Borković in first practice, but had reduced the gap to four tenths of a second in second practice, leading him to believe that he can take the fight to his Hyundai rival.
“I think it can be possible [to beat Dušan] because now Borković is only four tenths faster than me. It can be possible, but I prefer difficult conditions.
“We need to be consistent and not make any mistakes. If we are P6, then P6 is OK. Yes, I am a driver and want to be in the first position, but in this meeting at Assen the CUPRA is not the faster car.
“It’s my first time here; I’ve never been here before. It’s a really fun track because it has high-speed corners, chicanes and I had fun every lap.
“For overtaking and for touring cars it will be difficult because it’s a fast track and typically on these tracks its difficult to overtake. But you need to try it anyway.”