Driver Mikel Azcona takes victory in final race, moves to top of 2026 season standings; Round 6 set for Chengdu, China, from Oct. 16 to 18

Mikel Azcona (center) holds his trophy on the podium after winning first place. [Hyundai Motor]
Mikel Azcona (center) holds his trophy on the podium after winning first place. [Hyundai Motor]

Hyundai Motor claimed back-to-back victories at the Korea round of the 2026 TCR World Tour, one of the top touring car competitions in the world.

The company announced Monday that its New Elantra N TCR — sold domestically as the New Avante N TCR — won Round 5 of the 2026 TCR World Tour, held Friday through Sunday at Inje Speedium in Inje, Gangwon Province.

Inje Speedium, which hosted the Korea round, is a technically demanding circuit that makes use of the mountainous terrain of Inje, featuring 20 varied corners and significant elevation changes that require drivers to combine precise technique with consistent rhythm.

Mikel Azcona of the BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse team, competing in the New Elantra N TCR, took first place in both the first final race on Saturday and the third final race on Sunday.

The two victories earned Azcona 60 points, while a sixth-place finish in the second final race added 14 more and qualifying contributed another 15, bringing his total for the round to 89 points. He retained the top spot in the 2026 season driver standings.

Teammate Norbert Michelisz also had a strong showing, finishing third in the first final race, seventh in the second and third in the third, adding 10 points from qualifying for a round total of 70 points. He moved up to second in the 2026 season driver standings.

BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse accumulated 583 points through this round, maintaining second place in the overall team standings.

The New Avante N TCR leads the field at Inje Speedium. [Hyundai Motor]
The New Avante N TCR leads the field at Inje Speedium. [Hyundai Motor]

"We are delighted to have achieved the best result again, building on our past winning experience," a Hyundai Motor official said. "We will continue to work hard to deliver strong results for the rest of this season."

Round 6 of the TCR World Tour will be held in Chengdu, China, from Oct. 16 to 18.

The TCR World Tour operates as a customer racing series, meaning manufacturers do not compete directly — instead, professional racing teams purchase cars from manufacturers and enter the competition themselves.

The TCR series encompasses roughly 40 events worldwide, spanning continental and national competitions, with up to 650 drivers taking part across its various rounds.

The TCR World Tour, the top-tier global event within the TCR series, consists of eight rounds this year, with the remaining races scheduled to take place in China and Macao.

Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor has been pursuing a range of marketing activities to broaden motorsport culture in South Korea, including hosting the offline final of the "Hyundai N x Racing Master Cup" at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul in partnership with the popular global mobile racing game Racing Master.


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