Lynk & Co Cyan Racing heads to Uruguay this weekend for the second 2023 TCR World Tour season half – the home race of Santiago Urrutia which is expected to be sold out with a record crowd watching the massive 35-car field.
The TCR World Tour races together with the competitive TCR South America championship at Autódromo Victor Borrat Fabini, El Pinar - the first of two back-to-back race weekends, with Argentina next up just a week later.
Local hero Santiago Urrutia started the 2023 season strongly with a victory in Portugal, but had a difficult second part of the first half and is looking to bounce back in his home race.
"This race is a big dream coming true for me, to race in the TCR World Tour in my home country in front of my family, friends and everyone who has supported and followed me throughout my career. This is a historical happening to get a world series to Uruguay and I can’t wait to get going, let’s do this!" said Santiago Urrutia.
The team heads to South America after the summer break as leader of the teams' and drivers' championship, with Yann Ehrlacher on top with 195 points.
"It feels good heading to Uruguay as points leader, it's a position that I like and that I've been in before. Of course, the season is long still, and a lot of things can happen. We keep focusing on just performing as well as possible, race weekend by race weekend. I haven't raced at this circuit before, but I've prepared in the simulator and I feel ready to hit the ground running," said Yann Ehrlacher.
2017 world champion Thed Björk is the second best placed Lynk & Co Cyan Racing driver in sixth position, having scored the most recent victory in Hungary.
"I'm really excited to head to Uruguay and take on a completely new circuit. The feeling is good after my win in Hungary, a feeling that I will carry with me to this race. It will obviously be a challenge to race in such a big field together with TCR South America, but it's a challenge I'm up to and the ambition is to keep fighting for the TCR World Tour top three," said Thed Björk.
Ma Qing Hua, who is placed ninth overall, has never raced in Uruguay before and is keen to climb the order after a tentative first part of the season.
"I'm not happy personally where I'm in the standings, but I'm happy that we as a team head both championships. I'm excited to explore a new racing circuit in my career. I think it's going to be a big show this weekend in Uruguay. We will as usual work methodically to reach our goals of scoring high and consistently," said Ma Qing Hua.
The TCR World Tour weekend in Uruguay starts on Friday with practice, followed by qualifying on Saturday and two races Sunday.
All races will be broadcast LIVE via the TCR TV streaming platform.
For further information about the TCR World Tour, click here.
TCR World Tour – Race Of Uruguay
Autódromo Victor Borrat Fabini, El Pinar
Schedule – Times in UYT (-5H CEST)
Friday - 18/8
17:30 – Free Practice 1
Saturday – 19/8
11:30 – Free Practice 2
16:10 – Qualifying Q1 Group A
16:35 - Qualifying Q1 Group B
17:05 - Qualifying Q2
Sunday – 20/8
09:10 – Race 1
12:55 – Race 2
Standings - Drivers - Top 5
1 Yann Ehrlacher 195 pts
2 Norbert Michelisz 179 (-16)
3 Mikel Azcona 168 (-27)
4 Rob Huff 161 (-34)
5 Néstor Girolami 150 (-45)
...
6 Thed Björk 145 (-50)
8 Santiago Urrutia 111 (-84)
9 Ma Qing Hua 94 (-101)
Standings - Teams - Top 5
1 - Cyan Racing Lynk & Co 414 pts
2 - BRC Hyundai 351 (-63)
3 - Audi Sport Comtoyou 319 (-95)
4 - ALM Motorsport Honda 182 (-232)
5 - Comtoyou Racing 148 (-266)
2023 TCR World Tour calendar
28-30 April – Portimao – Portugal
26-28 May – Spa – Belgium
09-11 June – Vallelunga – Italy
16-18 June – Hungaroring – Hungary
18-20 August – El Pinar – Uruguay
25-27 August – San Luis – Argentina
03-05 November – Sydney Motorsport Park - Australia
10-12 November – Bathurst – Australia
17-19 November – Macau – China
Further TCR World Tour images.
Ends.
Media contact information
Johan Meissner
PR Manager
Cyan Racing
+46(0)70 241 3234
johan.meissner@cyanracing.com
About Cyan Racing
Cyan Racing was founded in 1996 and was formerly named Polestar until Volvo Cars acquired the performance section and trademark in 2015. Cyan Racing is privately owned and operated. The team has claimed seven touring car World Titles, most recently the 2021 WTCR drivers' and teams' titles with Lynk & Co – and participated in the development of the Polestar performance models of the Volvo S60 and V60 in the years 2013 to 2015, including the concept models Volvo C30 and S60 Polestar Concept Prototype. The company launched the Volvo P1800 Cyan in 2020, Cyan Racing’s interpretation of the iconic Volvo sports car from the sixties.
About Lynk & Co
Lynk & Co was created to provide mobility solutions for the connected generation. We do make really, really good cars (the kind that have all the features you want without you having to ask for them), but we also offer a new way of using those cars. Our membership-based approach makes it simple to get on the go. Members can access a car on a flexible, month-to-month basis and share with friends, family, and the Lynk & Co community.
About Geely Group Motorsport
Geely Group Motorsport is a brand neutral entity based within Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. It was founded in 2018 to provide strategic and tactical expertise to serve the best motorsport sporting and commercial interests for the auto brands in the group. One of its tactical assignments include the development and management of the Lynk & Co TCR and customer racing programmes.