WTCR Race of Portugal Race 2 press conference 04.07.2022: WTCR Race of Portugal, Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, July 1-3, 2022 WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 9 and 10 of 20 Teatro Municipal de Vila Real, July 3, 2022 In attendance:

WTCR Race of Portugal, Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, July 1-3, 2022
WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 9 and 10 of 20
Teatro Municipal de Vila Real, July 3, 2022

In attendance:

Rob Huff (Zengo Motorsport), winner, Race 2 (WTCR’s 100th race)
Attila Tassi (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler), second position, Race 2
Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), third position, Race 2
Tiago Monteiro (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler)





Rob, talk about leaving it to the last minute. Talk us through that incredible race, our hearts were in our mouths watching you.



Rob Huff (Zengo Motorsport), winner, Race 2 (WTCR’s 100th race)


Yeah, me too. Or my lungs were in my mouth. It was so hot in the cars and of course huge stress leading the race. This race, a lot of it comes down to strategy and this weekend we have had our problems with the strategy, in the sense that from Turn 6 to Turn 22 we have no radio signal and of course it makes it very difficult to find information which you desperately need.


We set it up so every time out of Turn 22 I got information. The decision when to take the Joker was obviously an amazing call by the team, my engineer and all the guys. Ultimately we had no option other than to leave it as late as possible. The lap the first safety car came out was when I was going to Joker. I had a gap to Norbi behind which was safe enough for me to do it.


And then the safety car came. Strangely Yvan a lap or two after the safety car decided to do the Joker which I thought was a bit strange because he was pulling away a bit. Then Mikel decided to go and Attila decided to go and it was just clean air for me. As soon as I got in the lead immediately I could go half a second, a second a lap quicker. The car was amazing and then the strategy is leave it as long as possible. I wanted to do it the lap before when we had a 2.4s gap.



The team said no, the next lap because you are making it easier on yourself, then you can take the Joker easier. In the end I did an almighty Joker Lap and a big push lap gained another second on that lap, almost completely outbraked myself at the Joker with excitement and then obviously the next lap there was a safety car, so we hit the jackpot on when to do it. The next thing I know the chequered flag is coming out. It was just amazing.






And the safety car was sadly because of your team-mate…



Rob Huff (Zengo Motorsport), winner, Race 2 (WTCR’s 100th race)

Yeah, unfortunately Dani just clipped too much of the inside kerb and that understeered him into the outside kerb, and Berthon went with him. It was sad for Dani. Thankfully he didn’t do it a lap earlier because that would have cost the team dearly! I guess for me perfect timing.






And it extends your WTCR Trophy lead.


Rob Huff (Zengo Motorsport), winner, Race 2 (WTCR’s 100th race)

Yeah, very much so. We came into this season with not exactly many aspirations and not a lot of confidence. As everyone knows, two weeks before the first race we weren’t racing and here we are mixing it at the front with the big boys and big teams. It’s just amazing to be a part of such an emotionally passionate team about motor sport. Zoltan has been in this paddock for 12-15 years, everyone knows him, he’s a huge character and this year everything so far has come together.


Long may it continue. I would just like to say a huge congratulations to Vila Real, the real winner this weekend. Tiago’s done the most amazing job, the whole team behind the scenes to make this event what it is. We all love coming here and not having been here for three years, just amazing. And that podium is just something else.






Of all the places to make a podium, here’s to do it.




Rob Huff (Zengo Motorsport), winner, Race 2 (WTCR’s 100th race)

Yeah, it just takes over you. At the end of the day it’s all for Tiago, but at the same time they’re all motorsport fans and they love to see great racing and we come here and put on one hell of a show for them. And they put on a show for us, so it’s mutually beneficial.






Attila, you’ve had such a hard season, so this was such a deserved podium for you and the team. Congratulations.





Attila Tassi (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler), second position, Race 2


Thank you. Until this point this season was more down than up unfortunately, starting from Pau. But the past is the past, we can’t change it so we look into the future. I was really excited to come back to Vila Real once again, as Rob said. It’s amazing to be here, I really missed those two years here, especially because me and Tiago have very nice memories from 2019.


So I was really excited to be coming here, I knew that we had better opportunities here on the street circuit where the car can perform better, and me especially I figured out I really like to search my limits. I was really happy to race here. It was not the easiest race of my life. First it was starting with a clutch problem before the race, so I knew it would be a tough one to get off the line.


I was a bit lucky to get away as well as I did and then I knew the Lynk & Co with Yvan would be much quicker than me. I saw Mikel behind me and knew they had a better pace than us. So after the safety car came I saw Mikel going for the joker. That lap I think I touched the wall twice, really on the edge and I really nailed the Joker Lap. Like Rob I almost outbraked myself, but thank God I didn’t. It was a tough one.


Then I don’t know what happened to Yvan because he lost a lot on the Joker Lap, then Rob did an amazing job. His pace was amazing, I couldn’t keep up. I feel like I extracted everything the car had. I as centimetres away from the wall, I touched many times. I was just focusing on not having too much gap which unfortunately at the end a quarter of a lap maybe earlier the safety car comes it would have been better.



 But this is motor sport, these are the opportunities we have, he took the chance so congrats to him and the team. It’s amazing to be on the podium in Vila Real, especially two or three years ago we had the chance to stand together with Tiago. Unfortunately, it didn’t come today, but better late than never.



So I’m happy for this. Thanks to the team, to Honda, to LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler, they did an amazing job, I’m really happy that finally we have some good result in the box. They deserve it a lot, so I’d like to dedicate this podium to them and hope for much more to come in the future.




Mikel, good points and a podium, but what happened on the Joker Lap?



Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), third position, Race 2

Yeah, a tough race I have to say. Congrats to Attila and Rob. They were so fast. I was pushing hard as well. I touched the wall twice as well trying to make small gap. On the Joker Lap basically I was very on the limit. I missed a little bit the apex but in the end we were able to continue. So tough race, not easy because especially at Vila Real to go to the limit is not easy.


You are nearly in the walls at very high speed. But at the same time you really enjoy because it’s giving you this adrenaline feeling. It’s very special to drive here. But in the end I’m very happy with the points, P3 and I keep working on this line, leading the championship. So very happy for the weekend.





You take a 16-point advantage as we go to Vallelunga. What is that like for you?



Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), third position, Race 2

When you are leading it is always good. For Vallelunga it gives us a small advantage but not everything can happen in one weekend. We just need to keep flowing on this line with good results, a good feeling with the car, a good atmosphere working with the team and everybody.





What’s your history at Vallelunga? Fond memories of it?



Mikel Azcona (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse), third position, Race 2

In Vallelunga I have driven only once, last year with Pure ETCR so I have very good memories, I like the track, I think for the TCR car it matches very well. So looking forward to going there and at the same time. Always when you are going with a very good feeling with the car it’s always better. I’m looking forward to Italy.




Tiago, that was a tricky day. Tell us about it from your perspective.



Tiago Monteiro (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler)


From my side it was obviously not the perfect weekend, it was not an amazing weekend in terms of performance or results obviously. Front splitter destroyed in race one and a crash in race two. So obviously not what we wanted but this season has been a little bit like this. A bit of a nightmare. Therefore we continue to push, continue to work and luck will turn.


I’ve been there, I’ve been racing for 25 years, I’ve had some tough years and I know how to make it turn around. Sooner or later it will come back. The important thing is the show is good and those guys drove amazingly well. The Joker Lap was exciting as well and like everybody said it’s just amazing to feel this support and this passion. As Rob said, obviously I am the local guy, but they love racing. They love every guy and driver out here. They all feel that, they feel supported.


This is what we race for. Why we race, why we go through these sometimes difficult times because of this passion and to feel that. It’s great that we are back and we hope we are back for long here. We need activities like that, we need to feel that human touch that we missed for too long.



 So once again thank you to everybody. The organisation has been amazing once again. There is so much work in the background to make this happen, so well done everybody. And also the drivers of course.





 Richard Rodgers, photos WTCR