Norbert Michelisz admitted that he dropped back from fighting for the lead in the first TCR race in Thailand in order to try to help M1RA team-mate Attila Tassi, but when that didn’t work he got on with his own race and ended up with victory.
Michelisz was around two seconds behind early leader Mat’o Homola in the race when he decided to ease off in order to help title contending team-mate Tassi with his bid to move up the order.
However the Hungarian’s plan back-fired as the SEAT of Pepe Oriola made contact with the back of Tassi, dropping him behind Michelisz, Oriola and Jean-Karl Vernay.
In the end, Michelisz opted to stay out of the battle for what was then the final podium position, and when Homola picked up a puncture late in the race, he inherited the lead to then take his first win in the TCR International Series.
“I’m absolutely over the moon,” said Michelisz. “Before the weekend, we didn’t really expect to win races to be honest. The Civic is carrying a lot of weight but we did some great work and the team found a good balance.”
Despite trying, and failing, to help his team-mate, Michelisz admitted to being happy with his team’s results, in particular as new signing Giacomo Altoè finished in sixth in race one.
“I’m really happy for Attila because he scored the most points and I’m also happy for Giacomo, because I think he can be proud of himself. We knew what we had to do in qualifying and both races went well.
“I had luck because Homola suffered a puncture. I could see that he was pushing and so I followed him to increase the pressure, but I could see in the mirror that Attila might need some help so I dropped back.
“Oriola was too close and so it didn’t work as well as it might, but at the end it is how it is and so I’m happy for the team.”