Niels Langeveld takes the crown in the final round
On a great final weekend in TCR Italy, Target Competition driver Niels Langeveld secured the first-ever National Drivers’ Title for our Elantra N TCR.
“The Niels and Target Competition title was only possible thanks to many great performances throughout the year,” said our Deputy Team Principal Julien Moncet. “Their double podium last weekend may be the headline news, but the three other wins throughout the year show the great consistency it takes to win a crown.”
A near perfect weekend in Vallelunga
The Dutchman started the final with just under 40 points – which corresponds to a race win. However, he reduced the lead after qualifying with his second pole position of the year and scored the maximum 15 points.
Niels dominated Race 1 and claimed a lights-to-flag victory. It was his fourth win of the season – the highest of any driver on the grid – and further closed the gap to the championship leader.
From eighth place on the grid, Niels quickly started race 2 and was already fourth at the end of the first lap. Moments later, his main title rival fell out of the race with Niels chasing him. After skilfully avoiding contact in the fierce battles on the track around him, he crossed the finish line in fourth. The Dutch rider was then promoted to third for his second podium of the weekend.
The Italian job
Niels started his TCR Italy season with a win in race one at Monza but had to wait until round three to return to the podium. In the second race at Misano he finished second in a 1-2-3 for our customers; Team Aggressive Italia’s Michele Imberti and Kevin Ceccon finished first and third respectively.
Before the summer break, Niels was the rider to beat at Mugello. After claiming pole position, he was denied a dominant win in Race 1 by a late puncture, but a superb drive in Race 2 propelled him through the field to claim victory. That form continued as action resumed in September and second on the grid in Race 1 at Imola turned into victory.
The title is Target Competition’s second in the series, following Antti Buri’s championship win in the i30 N TCR in 2021. It also adds to the success of the Elantra N TCR, which took the 2021 TCR Europe team title and class wins at the 24th World Championship hours Nürburgring back.
Table of TCR Italy 2022 after six rounds
1 N. Langeveld 381
2 S. Tavano 347
3 D.Babuin 276
4 R. Volt 241
5 C. Tambourine 216
6 C. Brusa 208
