Target Competition Racing driver Reece Barr comes away from the Hungaroring TCR round with more confidence that he’s within reach of the podium steps after a very challenging weekend full of highs and lows. The 17 year old based in Silverstone U.K. said “I came to Hungary confident that the Circuit would suit me and my car; my pace in the opening laps of Fridays FP1 was again strong finishing the shorten session in P4’ unfortunately due to my ‘off’ at Turn 4; huge thanks to all the Target engineers who did a fantastic job to get my car turned around for FP2 which turned out to be a two lap shakedown to ensure the car was ready for early qualifying on Saturday”
Qualifying Saturday 7th July - turned out to be the first time the teenager experienced the i30N on wet Yokohama’s but he soon moved up the order to finish a very credible P5 on a drying track which seen his fellow racer Azcona pit for front slicks with two laps to go landing pole for the Spanish driver ahead everyone else remaining on full wets.
Race 1 Saturday 7th July - again Reece faced new conditions this time starting on slicks with a damp track and light rain drops; he got a really good start passing his team mate Borkovic into the first corner with Dusan reclaiming the position into turn two; and with the head down mainly focusing on the drying line and a safety car restart the No.8 Hyundai got a run on Azcona out of the last corner moving the teenager into his first podium running position but unfortunately a small error of judgment by Reece under braking and the close proximity of Azcona going into turn one for the last time seen the two make contact causing drive failure on the Hyundai which ended a fantastic effort. RB “very disappointing as that was for sure my best race to-date and with no choice but to go a little later on the brakes to hold the position my car oversteer a little which in itself was fine to make the apex into turn one but unfortunately Azcona was already committed to a cut-back move and caught my rear corner which pushed me into a spin and unavoidable contact with Commi’s Type R Honda who committed to a move around the outside”
Race 2 Sunday 8th July - back to sunshine, a dry track and a repaired i30N Reece was starting from P6 for this reverse grid race and again despite a little wheel spin he had a good start and slotted in behind Files and Tassi for P8 maintaining this position under pressure from his teammate Ricard and Azcona to the final laps when Borkovic retired due to contact and Briche pick up a drive-through penalty which move Reece into P6 for the chequered flag. RB “It was a consolidation race for me and I’m happy to get the car back with some points’ just a bittersweet weekend really happy with my pace’ but very disappointed with the end of race one” “A huge thanks to Jordan, Philipp and all the Target Crew as it was their efforts that salvaged something from this weekend’s effort”
Heading into the second half of the season, the Hyundai racer hopes to carry forward his pace and with more luck in the racing hopes to be able to break into the podium positions, and the experience from race one this weekend could have seen him make the podium.
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Our mailing address is: reece@reecebarr.com