BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse reignites the challenge in the 2026 TCR World Tour
• BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse continues long-term Kumho FIA TCR World Tour participation with two car-team for 2026 season
• Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz to chase more touring car success the during eight-event campaign
• Test sessions further unlock the performance of the Elantra N EV TCR ahead of new title chase getting under way at Misano in Italy next month.
April 24, 2026 – BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse will be even more focused than ever before when it bids to reclaim the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour Drivers’ and Teams’ titles in 2026.
The most successful team in TCR history in terms of Drivers’ World Championships, has switched from a three- to a two-car line-up as it goes all out in its pursuit of further touring car success.
Based in Cherasco, northern Italy, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse will continue its alliance with Hungarian driver Norbert Michelisz for a ninth season, as Spain’s Mikel Azcona prepares for a fifth term as part of the team, for what will mark the Hyundai Elantra N TCR’s sixth year competing at the forefront of international touring car competition.
With four world-level touring car titles between them, Azcona and Michelisz form a hugely strong partnership, bringing vast pace and pedigree to BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse.
Néstor Girolami, who joined BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse in 2024 and claimed three wins across two seasons, has turned his attentions to the TCR South America Touring Car Championship, where he drives an Elantra N TCR for the Hyundai MSA outfit. After two events, the Argentine driver leads the provisional standings.
By channelling its expertise into its pair of Elantra N EV TCR cars in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse moves into an even stronger position to support drivers and teams competing in other series across the globe.
Team Principal BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Quotes: Gabriele Rizzo: “We are very pleased to confirm two of the three drivers from last season, ensuring an important level of continuity within the team. Mikel’s and Norbi’s experience and commitment, combined with their pure talent and speed, will be a strong foundation as we approach the forthcoming season.
At the same time, I would like to sincerely thank Bebu Girolami. Circumstances did not allow us to continue together, but his contribution and professionalism played an important role in our journey, and we wish him all the best for the future, confident that our paths will cross again.
As we begin this new season, the motivation inside the team is very high. We are ready to face the challenge with energy, determination, and a clear goal: to keep improving and to be competitive from the very first round.
I would like to thank Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing for their continued trust and professional, valuable support. The Hyundai Elantra N TCR has proven to be a versatile and high-performance car, capable of delivering strong results on very different tracks and conditions, and it gives us great confidence heading into the season.
A special mention goes to our sponsor Arteak: it is a pleasure to continue with their support, confirming the cooperation that started last year.
The championship will start in Italy at Misano, where we expect strong support from many fans, and will conclude, as tradition, at Macau – a territory where we have achieved many of our successes in the past, and where we will aim to fight for victory once again”.
Driver Quotes: BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse
Mikel Azcona said: “My approach is always the same, to bring the maximum and all the effort to start the season in the best condition possible. We had some technical issues in the car last year, but we’ve fixed those during the winter so, already, we’re in a much better position than 2025. Testing has been good and, personally, I feel strong. While the target is to win the title myself, I will always look for the best possible result for the team. So, if I’m not in the position to fight for the title and Norbi is, then I will help the team and Norbi to bring the title home. After the challenging start to last year, we already started to think to 2026 during the season. We used every single kilometre to prepare for this year. That was not easy as a driver, but it was a process that means everything looks much better now. We are going to be much more competitive and much stronger. Having two cars on the grid and not three will make it a challenge in some situations, but I’m very happy to be with Norbi for a fifth season. We know how to work together and he’s such a good team-mate, and this makes me very motivated. I can’t wait to race again in my Hyundai. It’s been a long stop, and I really want to be back in the race weekend mood, working with my team on the strategy, working with my engineer on the set-up. This is something I’ve really missed.”
Norbert Michelisz said: “I’m expecting a lot this season because testing has gone very well, and we’ve been able to make quality gains in terms of performance. Because of this I’m like a child before Christmas. I’m super-excited, I feel very strong, and I feel very confident. It’s a big pleasure for me to continue to drive for BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse but, moreover, I’m very excited by the prospect of driving the Elantra N TCR again. It’s also great having Mikel in the team, which means I have a bar that I have to set very high and cannot lean back. I still feel very hungry, I still want to come out on top, but, on the other hand, I still want to achieve great things for the team. It’s a very nice and competitive environment with Mikel, we have helped each other to grow as race car drivers and as people. I am sorry that Néstor is not in the team, he was a huge asset, but we showed with Mikel before that even with two cars we can still win because we both know what we need to do to have success. I am fully committed and motivated for the season. My instinct tells me we will be the frontrunners. I feel a lot of energy, a lot of excitement and I can’t get back onto the racetrack.”
Season at a Glance
*BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse will field two entries for Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour with other customer teams expected to take part in selected events during the year.
*The 2026 Kumho FIA TCR World Tour stops off in Italy, Spain, France, Portugal, South Korea and China between May and November.
*At Misano, Paul Ricard and Vila Real, two 60-kilometre races will be held. At Valencia, Inje, Chengdu and Zhuzhou, three races of 30 minutes plus one lap will be scheduled. At the Macau season finale, two races covering 10 laps will take place.
*Qualifying will be split into two parts, Q1 and Q2, with the fastest 12 drivers progressing to Q2. The qualifying results will be used to determine the starting grid for Race 1 and Race 2, although the top 10 positions for Race 2 will be in reverse of the Q2 order, while the driver setting the fastest lap in Race 1 will be promoted one position. The Race 3 grid will be decided by calculating the points scored in Qualifying, Race 1 and Race 2.
*Arteak branding will appear on the BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse entries confirming the cooperation that started last year.