Mikel Azcona: “Girolami is going over the sporting limits”

Volcano Motorsport driver Mikel Azcona has hit out at championship rival Franco Girolami of PSS Racing Team following several on track encounters during the penultimate round of the TCR Europe season at Monza.

Comtoyou Racing’s Nicolas Baert (Audi RS 3 LMS) led Race 2 ahead of Azcona and Girolami when the pack arrived to Roggia chicane with waved yellow flags due to a stranded car.

The Argentinean, however, overtook Azcona for second place, a manouvre that would later render him a 30-second time penalty.

“Regarding the fight with Franco Girolami, first we must say that he overtook me at the second chicane under yellow flags and didn’t give back the position, so he was logically penalised,” Azcona told TouringCarTimes.

Girolami and Azcona then both made their way past Bart, starting a tough fight for the lead for the remainder of the race. The Argentinian driver defended hard and the two made contact at the end of the long straight, heading into the Parabolica.

“But I think Franco is going over the sporting limits,” added the Volcano Motorsport driver. “In every overtaking maneuver I attempt over him he only looks for a contact, getting me out of the way or touching me to avoid the overtake, so I don’t share these actions, as they are against the sport and the regulations.

“We all drivers know to do this type of dirty actions, but I think most of us hold off and don’t go ahead, but I think Girolami is going too much over the limit, yesterday at the main straight and today here,” added the Spaniard.

Girolami and Azcona crossed the line in first and second places, but Girolami’s penalty dropped him to 19th place, whilst the Spaniard received a five-second time penalty for pushing Jimmy Clairet (Peugeot 308TCR) out of line on the opening lap, dropping to fourth position.

“In general, I’m happy with the weekend,” added Azcona. “Today’s race was a bit chaotic, because the conditions, a lot of overtaking and a slippery track with dry tyres.”

Azcona leads the championship with 382 points heading to the final round of the season at Barcelona and Girolami is 53 points behind, with 90 points still to be awarded.

“I’m happy because we have good chances to win the title at Barcelona and looking excited of becoming the European champion for the second time,” concluded Azcona.

The final round of the season takes place at Barcelona on the 8-10 of October, clashing with the WTCR round at Most.

Neither Azcona nor Cupra have made a decision yet about where the Spaniard will be competing that weekend.