TCR Germany: A conciliatory conclusion 🎥

PODIUM FOR JULIEN, EXPERIENCE FOR JAMES Julien Apothéloz clinched the Junior runner-up title in the ADAC TCR Germany with two top-7 finishes at the Sachsenring. The third Young Driver, James Bischof, also put in a respectable performance. For Julien Apothéloz, the big goal of the season was only theoretically achievable. To still be champion in the lucrative ADAC TCR Germany Junior Challenge [...]

Editorial - October 1, 2019

At the Sachsenring, Julien Apothéloz won the trophy as best junior for the second time. Unfortunately, this was no longer enough to win the title (Photo: Peter Wyss).

The big goal of the season was only theoretically achievable for Julien Apothéloz. In order to become champion in the lucrative ADAC TCR Germany Junior Challenge - the winning prize being a new Honda Civic Type R - everything would have had to go in his favor and against his direct opponents. Starting both races in twelfth place in the Cupra TCR entered by TOPCAR sport, last year's overall winner of the "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge" quickly advanced into the top ten and finished a good seventh in each race.

Second win of the season in the Junior Challenge
Thanks to the points he scored, the 18-year-old high school student managed to jump from tenth to eighth place in the 2019 ADAC TCR Germany championship, and he was also able to take his place on the podium again after Race 2 as the winner of the Junior Challenge. The youngster from Switzerland ultimately missed out on the title by just a few points against the more experienced German Michelle Halder.

Apothéloz had the speed for more with the Cupra TCR from TOPCAR sport, but not always the necessary luck.

Nevertheless, he draws a positive conclusion from his first full season.

Julien Apothéloz: "Too many things went wrong in some races, which cost me points. However, I was able to learn a lot and have made constant progress. You can't have any illusions: There weren't as many competitors as in previous years. But the level is still very high from the top to the midfield. It's not easy to keep up with the front runners. After all, I've done it several times."

One last podium at Spa?
The 2019 racing season is not quite over yet for Apothéloz. Next weekend he will compete in the "Spa TCR 500", an endurance race over 500 laps on the Belgian GP circuit (approx. 3500 kilometers or 23 hours), which is reserved for touring cars under TCR regulations.

TOPCAR sport has lined up a strong quintet of drivers with Finns Antti Buri (3rd ADAC TCR Germany 2019) and Kari Laaksonen, Spaniard Mikel Azcona (Cupra WTCR driver), Bernese Fabian Danz (European 24H Series TCE 2019 champion) and him. With Apothéloz, Buri, Danz and Loris Prattes, the Bernese team won the 24 Hours of Barcelona a month ago.

James Bishop learns quickly
James Bischof was the third finalist in the "AutoScout24 and CUPRA Young Driver Challenge" after Karen Gaillard (Nürburgring) and Mario Anderegg (Hockenheim). From practice in changeable weather to the two races on a dry track, the 18-year-old from St. Gallen shortened the gap to the top with his lap times in the second Swiss Cupra TCR.

He describes how he experienced his race debut on Saturday (15th place) in a short interview:

https://www.facebook.com/YoungDriverChallengeCH/videos/688145285018021

More simply presented
Although the son of a racing enthusiast from eastern Switzerland and his wife from the Dominican Republic had to settle for 18th place the other day, he was even more satisfied.

James Bischof: "I made fewer mistakes and was closer to the opponents. Although I got a brake plate, it was more fun than on Saturday."

And then followed a confession.

James Bischof: "I had imagined it to be easier. It looks so easy on TV. And when you drive it yourself, everything is different. It was an indescribable experience."

A jury will decide who will be the overall winner of the Young Driver Challenge 2019. The winner will be announced in November.