TCR / 27 August 2018

TCR Korea kicks off with double-podium for Civic Type R TCR

DreamRacer Racing Team’s Kim Byong Hyun marked the inaugural TCR Korea event with a magnificent double-podium finish for the Honda Civic Type R TCR.

Kim, who took delivery of his JAS Motorsport-built car just two weeks ago, qualified fifth for the dry opening race, which also included competitors from the TCR Asia Series, and converted it into an excellent second place.

He followed this up with third later on in a race that was affected by the onset of rain, and lies second in the championship table.

Maximum Racing’s Lo SzeHo, who arrived in South Korea second in the TCR Asia points table, made a rocket start to climb from ninth to second within two corners.

Unfortunately, he retired in the pits with just four laps to go and was unable to start Race Two as the issue could not be repaired in time.

Lo heads to the Shanghai series finale in October third in the points and one of five drivers in contention for the crown.

TCR Thailand regulars Chariya Nuya, of Billionaire Boy Racing, and Nattachak Hanjitkasem, of TBN MK Ihere Racing, both contested the Yeongam event as guest entrants and were not eligible for points.

Nuya qualified a career-best fourth in his Civic Type R TCR and recorded a best finish of fifth in Race Two. Hanjitkasem twice finished sixth.

Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsport TCR Project Leader, said: “As a concept, TCR has opened up some exciting new markets for the Honda Civic Type R TCR and Korea is the latest of these. We were delighted when DreamRacer Racing first expressed an interest in running the car and the team – along with their driver, Kim Byong Hyung, have done an excellent job to take the car out of the box and finish on the podium twice on their debut. I’m sure we’ll continue to see impressive results from them as the season continues.”