Mikel Azcona hailed a ‘special’ second TCR Europe title, after the Volcano Motorsport CUPRA driver sealed the championship with a race to spare in Barcelona.
Azcona is competing in an unprecedented race weekend for the Spaniard. Having claimed pole position in qualifying for the FIA World Touring Car Cup at Most on Friday, he flew overnight to Barcelona for TCR Europe on Saturday.
There, the 25-year-old continued his form in a different series, bagging pole position on Saturday morning before following up with a lights-to-flag win in race one in the afternoon.
That result, combined with no points for rival Franco Girolami, gave Azcona the title, meaning he can return to the airport and fly back to the Czech Republic to continue his WTCR weekend.
Azcona admitted that his first TCR Europe title had been more special, but he was also delighted with how his second title-winning season in the series had gone, as he claimed six victories on his way to the top spot in 2021.
“I’m really, really happy – we are showing to all the people that we are on a really, really high level,” said Azcona to TouringCars.Net. “When you win the European title for the first time it’s more special, but I feel special now too.”
Azcona agreed that winning the title with more race wins and having missed an entire event at Zandvoort gave his success an extra special element.
“I have to say yes [it’s more significant] because always missing a race makes it more difficult. Winning without going to The Netherlands makes it more special knowing that it was a really tight championship.
“In the end I’m really happy and proud of my team – we did amazing races for the whole championship and the car was amazing.
“I have to say the CUPRA Leon Competición was I think the best car.
“Tonight, I will have a good dinner with all my team in the Czech Republic, but in the evening, I will be also preparing myself for tomorrow’s [WTCR] races.”