Hyundai Motorsport Celebrates Double Victory at Home Event as Mikel Azcona Takes Championship Lead at Inje Speedium
Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing enjoyed an outstanding weekend in South Korea as Mikel Azcona secured two victories at Inje Speedium during Round 5 of the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour. Competing at Hyundai’s home event, Azcona delivered a dominant performance in his Hyundai Elantra N TCR, claiming a pole-to-flag victory in Race 1 before winning Sunday’s deciding Race 3. The results strengthened Hyundai’s championship challenge and moved Azcona to the top of the Drivers’ standings.
Driving for BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, the Spanish driver demonstrated strong pace, race management and consistency throughout the three-race weekend. His two victories brought his season tally to three wins and established a 41-point advantage over team-mate Norbert Michelisz, who finished second in the championship standings after a productive weekend of his own.
The South Korean event also delivered a podium finish for Junesung Park of Solite Indigo Racing, ensuring a Hyundai Elantra N TCR appeared among the top three finishers in all three races at Inje Speedium.
Azcona Dominates Race 1 to Regain Championship Lead
Azcona began the weekend with his fourth pole position of the 2026 season and converted that advantage into victory in Saturday’s opening race. Starting from the front of the grid, he made an excellent launch and immediately established control of the race.
The Hyundai driver maintained his lead throughout the 19-lap contest, managing the cars behind while carefully controlling tyre wear on a circuit known for limited grip and significant degradation. His performance secured his second victory of the season at that stage and allowed him to regain the lead of the Drivers’ championship for the first time since the season opener at Misano in May.
Azcona completed Race 1 in 33 minutes and 1.029 seconds. Thed Björk finished second in a Geely Preface, 1.902 seconds behind, while Michelisz took third in another Hyundai Elantra N TCR, 6.696 seconds from the winner.
Michelisz had qualified on the front row after a strong performance from BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse. However, the Hungarian driver was carrying 30 kilograms of Compensation Weight, compared with the 10 kilograms carried by Azcona. The additional weight affected his performance as the race progressed, particularly through the latter stages when front-end grip became increasingly difficult to manage.
Despite surrendering second place to Björk, Michelisz remained positive about his third-place finish, describing it as the happiest third-place result of his career. His performance demonstrated the team’s ability to maximise its available points despite the handicap imposed by the additional weight.
Junesung Park also delivered a strong result for Solite Indigo Racing, finishing fifth in Race 1 and adding to Hyundai’s encouraging start at its home event.
Strategic Race 2 Performance Preserves Championship Opportunities
Sunday morning’s Race 2 presented a different challenge for Azcona, who started tenth on the partially reversed grid. Rather than attempting an overly aggressive recovery, the Spaniard focused on making steady progress while protecting his car and securing valuable championship points.
Azcona moved into ninth place early in the race before gaining two positions in quick succession. Following a pre-race agreement between the team-mates, he allowed Michelisz to move ahead, leaving him in seventh place.
The Spanish driver subsequently advanced to sixth after overtaking championship rival Santiago Urrutia shortly after the halfway point. He was on course to complete the race in the top six but moved aside on the final lap to allow Michelisz back through.
Azcona also experienced a vibration during the closing stages and eased his pace slightly. With his starting position for Race 3 unaffected by the change of positions, he could afford to manage the gap to the chasing pack and avoid unnecessary risks ahead of the decisive afternoon contest.
Michelisz ultimately finished sixth in Race 2 after starting ninth, while Azcona crossed the line seventh. Park produced another impressive performance, finishing third and securing a podium for Hyundai Elantra N TCR machinery in the second race.
Victor Andersson won Race 2 in a Cupra Leon VZ, with Qing Hua Ma finishing second in a Geely Preface. Park completed the podium, 6.428 seconds behind the winner.
The results also helped Michelisz draw level on points with Urrutia before the final race, placing him in a stronger position to challenge for second place in the championship.
Second Pole Position Leads to Decisive Race 3 Victory
Azcona secured his second pole position of the Inje Speedium weekend based on the points accumulated across qualifying and the first two races. He made full use of the opportunity in Sunday afternoon’s deciding contest, leading from start to finish to claim his third victory of the 2026 season.
The race proved to be a demanding test, with Azcona required to maintain a high pace while resisting intense pressure from Björk. The Hyundai driver delivered a controlled performance, avoiding mistakes and maintaining his position through the closing stages. Following a period behind the safety car, he continued to manage the challenge and ultimately crossed the finish line first.
Azcona completed the 18-lap race in 32 minutes and 4.267 seconds. Björk finished just 0.311 seconds behind in second place, while Michelisz secured third, 10.433 seconds from the winner.
The result gave BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse its fifth victory of the season and confirmed a successful conclusion to Hyundai’s home event. Michelisz’s third-place finish also strengthened his position in the championship standings, moving him into second place overall.
Hyundai Motorsport Praises Drivers and Team Preparation
Benoît Nogier, Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager, credited the team’s success to the drivers’ skill, preparation and the continued competitiveness of the Hyundai Elantra N TCR.
“We can put this tremendous result at our home event down to three factors,” Nogier said. He highlighted the performances of Azcona and Michelisz, the team’s hard work during the summer break and the car’s strong performance as the main contributors to the weekend’s results.
Nogier welcomed the two additional victories and Azcona’s return to the championship lead, while emphasising that the season remains unfinished. With three events still to come, he said the team must continue pushing to maintain its competitive position.
The weekend represented a particularly important result for Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing following a difficult event at Inje Speedium the previous year. The double victory and multiple podium finishes provided a strong boost as the team prepares for the next stage of the championship.
Azcona and Michelisz Reflect on the Weekend
Azcona said the Race 1 victory was the result of strong qualifying performance and extensive preparation by the team. He explained that a clean start was essential, followed by careful management of the front tyres over the 19-lap distance.
Reflecting on Race 2, he said starting tenth on the reversed grid made the contest challenging, but he chose to avoid unnecessary risks and focus on collecting points for Race 3.
Azcona described the final race as the most challenging but enjoyable of the weekend, explaining that he pushed from the beginning and concentrated on completing each lap without mistakes. He expressed pride in the team’s performance and said winning twice in South Korea provided a positive foundation for the upcoming races in China.
Michelisz also praised the team’s overall performance. He explained that the additional 30 kilograms of Compensation Weight made Race 1 particularly difficult as front grip declined during the second half of the race. Nevertheless, he was pleased to secure third place and maximise the available points.
After finishing sixth in Race 2, Michelisz delivered another podium in the final contest. He highlighted his start, race management and efforts to preserve the left-front tyre while avoiding damage. The Hungarian driver said he was pleased with his points haul and the team’s recovery compared with the previous year’s event.
Championship Standings After Round 5
Following the South Korean round, Azcona leads the 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Drivers’ standings with 309 points. Michelisz is second with 268 points, while Urrutia sits third with 260. Björk follows in fourth place with 239 points, ahead of Yann Ehrlacher on 226.
In the Teams’ standings, Geely Cyan Racing remains in first place with 600 points. BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse is second with 583 points, keeping the Hyundai team firmly in contention as the season progresses.
The standings underline the importance of the Inje Speedium results. Azcona has established a significant lead over his closest rivals, while Michelisz’s consistent points finishes have strengthened his position in second place. BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse will continue working to close the gap to Geely Cyan Racing in the Teams’ championship.
China Double-Header Next on the Calendar
The Kumho FIA TCR World Tour will next travel to Chengdu Tianfu International Circuit in China, which will host the sixth event of the season from October 16 to 18, 2026.
With three events remaining, Azcona will aim to defend his championship lead, while Michelisz and BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse will seek to build on their successful weekend in South Korea. The double victory at Inje Speedium has given Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing strong momentum heading into the next stage of the season, but the continuing battle for Drivers’ and Teams’ championship honours means the team must maintain its performance through the remaining rounds.
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