Santiago Urrutia overcomes the hot conditions to win at Valencia
Geely Cyan Racing’s Santiago Urrutia claimed victory in Saturday’s Race 1 at the Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia, host of the second round of the 2026 TCR World Tour.
The event was marked by concerns about the high temperatures and potential wear on the front right tyre due to the circuit layout used this year.
The Hyundai team managed to complete an engine change in Gabriele Covini’s Elantra N TCR, so the Italian could take the start from the back of the grid.
Yann Ehrlacher took the lead from pole position at the start, keeping his team-mates Santiago Urrutia and Thed Björk behind. The Frenchman went wide at Turn 1, with a door opening for Hyundai’s Mikel Azcona to overtake for the lead.
Aurélien Comte settled in fifth position, ahead of Norbert Michelisz, with Ma Qing Hua in eighth place. Cupra’s Viktor Andersson was up to ninth, ahead of Honda’s Jenson Brickley.
The positions at the front remained stable but, further back, René Polvsen fancied his chances against Damiano Reduzzi, clashing side-by-side to overtake for 16th position.
Ma Qing Hua came into the pits at the end of the eleventh lap with mechanical issues.
The top six continued following each other, but opened a two-second gap over Andersson, who was also defending from Brickley on lap 15.
Ehrlacher slowed down and retired to the side at the beginning of the following lap, with his Geely Preface TCR smoking from the bonnet.
The closing stages of the race were marked by Comte closing on Björk as the Frenchman eyed a possible podium finish.
Azcona came in with a puncture with just three minutes left on the clock, leaving Urrutia in the race lead. The Spaniard managed to return to the track in 21st position.
Urrutia won at the chequered flag ahead of Björk and Comte, with Michelisz in fourth place.
Andersson was fifth, followed by Brickley, Briché and Piirimägi. Enzo Gianfratti and Erik Zabala completed the top ten.
After Race 1 at Valencia Urrutia is now the new standings leader with 80 points, one ahead of Björk and nine over Azcona.
The TCR World Tour field returns to the track on Sunday morning for Race 2 at 11:55 CEST.
