Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed that reigning FIA World Touring Car Cup champion Mikel Azcona and 2019 champion Norbert Michelisz will be its two drivers in this year’s TCR World Tour.
Azcona and Michelisz will once again pair up for the South Korean marque in a pair of Hyundai Elantra N TCR cars.
Italian outfit BRC Racing will continue to run the team, which will operate under the BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse banner. BRC has run Hyundai’s operations in WTCR since the predecessor series began in 2018.
Legendary in-top racer Gabriele Tarquini will also continue in his role as the BRC Racing Team Manager, a position he first took on last season.
“BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Mikel and Norbert have already proven themselves to be a winning combination,” said Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul.
“We’re very happy to have both drivers and the team representing our Customer Racing department for the first season of the TCR World Tour.”
For 26-year-old Spaniard Azcona, it will be his second season with Hyundai. His first already yielded the WTCR title, with four race victories for the manufacturer.
“I’m really happy to continue with Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing and BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse for a second season,” said Azcona.
“When I joined the team for 2022 it was a great opportunity, and now we have another one with the beginning of the TCR World Tour.
“Last year we proved that me, Norbert and the team worked very well together when we won both titles and I think we are only stronger at the start of this season.
“With the preparation done, I think we have a great chance to race of the titles again and add to the success we had last year.”
Hungarian racer Michelisz is entering into his sixth season with Hyundai and BRC, equalling his longest stint with the same team.
“As the first year of TCR World Tour this year is really exciting,” said the 38-year-old. “We know that Mikel and I are very strong, and we know that the Elantra N TCR is a great car.
“There are lots of questions which we will only find out the answer to when we start racing in Portugal.”
Hyundai Motorsport President Sean Kim added: “TCR World Tour is a fantastic opportunity for us to showcase the N Brand and Hyundai Motorsport on a global stage at the top level of TCR competition.
“The start of our TCR project in 2017 was a key strategic decision, as it brought Hyundai Motorsport into circuit racing for the first time and supported the introduction of the first road cars in the N range the same year.
“The profile of both our TCR project and the N range have risen greatly since then. The importance of showing the performance of Hyundai Motorsport cars and representing the N brand at the top level of TCR competition remains in 2023 with the start of the TCR World Tour.
“I am sure we will have more victories to celebrate this year.”
The TCR World Tour season will begin in Portimão on April 28-30.