TCR / 24 November 2024

Montenegro wins pair of titles with Civic Type R TCR

JAS Motorsport Development Driver Ignacio Montenegro claimed the 22nd major title of the year for the Honda Civic Type R TCR as he came from behind to clinch the TCR Spain crown at Barcelona.

The Argentinian was part of a three-way showdown for the championship arriving at the circuit, but moved ahead on points by out-qualifying his rivals and then outracing them to take third in Saturday's opener, just ahead of ALM Motorsport team-mate Ruben Volt.

He then took a solid fourth spot in the finale, which not only gave him the overall crown, but also the Junior title after he won that class in Race One.

It was the sixth major TCR title won by Montenegro this year and the ninth of 2024 for ALM Motorsport.

Mike Halder, the 2021 champion, returned to the series for a guest weekend with TPR Motorsport and dominated the event.

The German qualified on pole position, led every lap of Saturday's race and then drove from 10th on the partially-reversed Sunday grid to record his 33rd win aboard a Civic Type R TCR – a new all-time record for a driver of the JAS-built car.

Halder's nearest challenger in Race One was RC2 Racing's Felipe Fernandez, who qualified and finished second; Montenegro and Volt making it an all-Honda top four.

Fernandez was fifth in Race Two with his brothers and Auto Club RC2 Valles team-mates Ruben and Victor taking best finishes of seventh and 11th.

Halder's team-mate Rene Povlsen missed qualifying due to a technical issue, but drove from the back to take 13th on Saturday and 12th on Sunday. Sven Karuse scored a best result of 16th in the third ALM car.