Five points are needed for Mikel Azcona (26 years old) to make history and become the first Spaniard to be World Touring Car Champion (WTCR). The Navarrese, in his first season at Hyundai, has reaped four victories and is 60 points ahead of second overall, the Argentine Néstor Girolami with the Honda Civic.
In Jeddah, which will use a short variant of the F1 circuit of 3,450 meters and 12 curves, already linking 4 with curves 20 and 21, a maximum of 65 points can be added, 10 of the classification, 30 of the race 1 and 25, with the grid partially reversed, of race 2. Therefore, Azcona would have to finish with the third fastest time in Saturday’s qualifying (20:30) to clinch the championship. If not, two more opportunities in the races (Sunday 21:45 and 00:15).
“This is a very important moment in my career and I know that I can achieve a great result. My goal is to win the world title and I will do everything possible to achieve it”, expressed the pilot before the weekend in Saudi Arabia.
The advantage is comfortable in the general and not even the ballast in his Elantra should keep the Spaniard from his goal, to be the fourth world champion of the WTCR era, after Yann Ehrlacher, Norbert Michelisz and Gabriele Tarquini: “We have a great advantage in the title ranking, which gives us an advantage. We know that we will have a drag for the last weekend, but I think we will be good enough to fight for the top positions. It will be difficult, as I had never been to Jeddah before, and there were only eight or nine days to prepare at home. I have full confidence in Hyundai, I know that the team will give me a great car”.