WTCR Race of Spain post-Qualifying press conference 25.06.2022: WTCR Race of Spain, MotorLand Aragón, June 25-26, 2022 WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 7 and 8 of 20 June 25, 2022 In attendance:

WTCR Race of Spain, MotorLand Aragón, June 25-26, 2022
WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 7 and 8 of 20
June 25, 2022



In attendance:

Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Team Audi Sport), pole position, Race 1
Nathanaël Berthon (Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport), second position, Race 1
Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), third position, Race 1
Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), top Spanish driver





Yann, a solid qualifying and more points in the bag in your bid to remain the King of WTCR?


Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), third position, Race 1


First of all, well done to the gents next to me. It’s a tough track and when you have Q1, Q2 and Q3 you have to nail the lap in every section of the qualifying, so it’s quite difficult in those conditions with the car we have. It’s quite tough and you really need to not make mistakes to put it all together.


It’s easy to be half a tenth off if you start to make mistakes, so it was really important that we reached this Q3 with two cars actually, with Yvan, and that’s quite good for the teams’ championship. I think Ma is starting the reverse-grid race from pole, which is even better for the team. I’m really looking forward for tomorrow, nothing is done yet but we’ve put a step forward already this weekend.






It was such a tight session and all bar Gilles made the smallest of errors. But they make the difference, don’t they?

Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), third position, Race 1


Yeah, sure. There were some cars we were expecting to be a bit quicker than what they delivered in this qualifying, to be honest. But actually it was close enough… come on, don’t point any more!


It was actually quite intense and we worked quite hard from the beginning of the free practice sessions to adapt to the track evolution as well, because of the thunder storm the track was quite shit and we had to deal with it. We are pleased to be here tonight.





Nathanaël, another Q3 for you. Talk us through your lap, just slightly behind your team-mate.




Nathanaël Berthon (Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport), second position, Race 1

Honestly, I gave everything. Congrats to Gilles. An impressive lap, really quick. Honestly we were not expecting to be so fast, but here we are: P1 and P2. It’s amazing for the team. A good achievement.







Will you have your elbows ready for tomorrow?



Nathanaël Berthon (Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport), second position, Race 1


Let’s see. Of course, I’m behind so it depends on the start. But we are team-mates so we will take care of each other.





Gilles, as the boys said it came down to you not making a mistake. And it really made up for the tricky session you had in Hungary.


Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Team Audi Sport), pole position, Race 1

Yes, exactly. I’m super-happy after Hungary. I was really quick there, we were really quick there and I should have been on pole after my Q2 fastest lap, but I messed it up myself. Q3 is such a mental game because you know you cannot make one mistake, which I did in Hungary and to finish the job is an even bigger relief.


I don’t think I’ve ever done a lap like this, it was simply perfect, there was not the slightest mistake. I’m super-happy, also to have Nat on P2. A good performance for Audi today and let’s finish the job tomorrow.





You’ve obviously found it tricky to put Hungary behind you. But letting go of mistakes, is that something you are learning more and more.



Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Team Audi Sport), pole position, Race 1

For sure, the younger you are – I’m still very young – but the younger you are the more difficult it is to let go of some mistakes you make, but I’ve gone forward on that and I can reset easier than before. Still for sure I’m really disappointed and I’ll not sleep for a night at least. But to finish the job now even makes it much better.






Mikel, after showing such pace I assume this was a strategic decision?



Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), top Spanish driver

First of all, congrats to the guys, they were so quick I have to say. Secondly, I was very happy with my qualifying. The car was working fantastic, I was going to the limit with a very good feeling. But in the end we were struggling in the last sector with the top speed, so that was the maximum we could do.


In the end top 10 in the reverse grid race is good, we are starting P3 which is great news with Norbi in second position. It’s a very good feeling to be here in Spain with the fans.






 Richard Rodgers, photos WTCR