ETCR hits Jarama with Cupra favourites for their home race
The FIA ETCR season heads to Spanish soil for the third round of the season at Jarama in Madrid. Cupra arrives to their home race having dominated the season so far, leading both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ standings.
Adrien Tambay is the drivers’ championship leader after a successful second round at the Hungaroring a week ago with 182 points, two ahead of his team-mate Mattias Ekström, who came out on top of the opening round of the championship at Pau-Ville.
“We knew we had a great car and the best drivers, but I have to say this is a result we didn’t expect,” said team principal Xavi Serra. “Let’s hope that in Jarama we continue in this line of success and we are aiming for the win.”
Hyundai Motorsport N’s Mikel Azcona is also heading to what is his home race, third in the standings after showing a strong form both at Pau-Ville and the Hungaroring.
But, having faltered at his start in Budapest finale last weekend, the Spaniard sits in third place in the standings, 43 points behind Tambay.
“It’s going to be very challenging with the electric car; I have plenty of experience with combustion engines here, but this will be my first time with a battery-powered car,” explained Azcona. “There are big kerbs at the circuit and with these cars, we need to take care under these conditions.”
Hyundai will also line up Nicky Catsburg for the first time this season, in place of Kevin Ceccon, with the Dutch also making his series debut.
“I’ve been keeping a close eye on the first two rounds in France and Hungary and I think we are in a good position to fight for victories,” explained Catsburg. “In testing I’ve been impressed with the speed and overall package of the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR, and I feel completely ready to hit the ground running in Jarama.”
Romeo Ferraris, the third team involved in the ETCR, is keen to score strongly ahead of the Spanish round after a good Hungarian round, with Maxime Martin winning his final in Budapest.
“We go to Jarama with great confidence, given the results obtained at the Hungaroring, where we became the first manufacturer besides Cupra to get on the podium in the 2022 season,” team principal Michela Cerruti said. “We want to continue on the path we have taken and push ourselves even further, hunting of the title of “King of the Weekend” for the first time this year.”
The FIA ETCR field will also face an additional challenge this weekend, with Madrid suffering a heatwave and expecting air temperatures of 40º C on Saturday.
FIA ETCR Jarama schedule
Saturday 18th of June
9:30 – 9:40 Pool Fast qualifying 1
9:55 – 10:05 Pool Fast qualifying 2
1230 – 12:40 Pool Furious qualifying 1
12:55 – 13:05 Pool Furious qualifying 2
15:40 – 15:48 Pool Fast quarter final 1
15:56 – 16:04 Pool Fast quarter final 2
18:30 – 18:38 Pool Furious quarter final 1
18:46 – 18:54 Pool Furious quarter final 2
Sunday 19th of June
9:05 – 9:13 Pool Fast semi final 1
9:21 – 9:29 Pool Fast semi final 2
12:05 – 12:13 Pool Furious semi final 1
12:21 – 12:29 Pool Furious semi final 2
15:06 – 15:21 Pool Fast super final
18:10 – 18:25 Pool Furious super final
