Santiago Urrutia TCR World Tour championship race

Uruguayan driver Santiago Urrutia, competing for Geely Cyan Racing, entered the TCR World Tour competition in South Korea as the championship leader with 230 points, holding a ten-point advantage over Mikel Azcona.

Following the South Korean stage, the competition moved to the Zhejiang International Circuit in China. In a race held under heavy rain, Urrutia secured a third-place podium finish. However, the result allowed Azcona to extend his lead in the standings.

During the seventh round in China, Urrutia faced mechanical challenges and 40 kilograms of ballast in his Geely Preface. While he secured a third-place finish in the opening race, he faced intense pressure from Hyundai teams in subsequent heats. Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz dominated the wet conditions, with Azcona securing a victory to further extend his lead. Urrutia’s performance fluctuated, recording a fifth-place finish in the second race and a tenth-place finish in the third after a tire issue necessitated an unscheduled pit stop.

With only two races remaining in the season, the championship battle remains concentrated among the top three drivers: Mikel Azcona leads with 413 points, followed by Santiago Urrutia with 380 points, and Norbert Michelisz with 362 points.