The 2019 WTCR champion and present TCR World Tour factors chief will obtain a life lengthy dream of competing in a rally at his house occasion, Rally Hungary from 6-8 October.
The manufacturing unit Hyundai TCR driver will pilot a Hyundai i20 Rally2 automobile on the asphalt occasion, competing underneath a particular license granted by Hyundai Motorsport. He’ll drive alongside skilled Hungarian co-driver Robert Tagai.
Michelisz will obtain just one check day earlier than collaborating within the occasion though the 39-year-old has beforehand sampled rally vehicles.
Final yr he piloted Hyundai’s WRC Rally1 automobile at Belgium’s Zolder Circuit as part of a car swap stunt involving manufacturing unit Hyundai WRC driver Thierry Neuville and Michelisz’s Hyundai’s Veloster N ETCR touring automobile.
“My first motorsport experiences are linked to rally races round Pécs, I had very vivid childhood recollections on Mecsek Rally” mentioned Michelisz.
“I fell in love with racing in rallies, and if I had been requested what kind of racing driver I needed to be, I might have positively mentioned rally driver. That life introduced me to closed circuit racing was primarily attributable to my sim racing days, that helped me to get right here, the place I’m now. However my affection to rally has remained, and now a childhood dream comes true.
“I used to be considering of it [going rallying] so much previously couple of years, and I at all times satisfied myself why the timing was not acceptable.
“Now I’ve reached the purpose the place I’m extra desirous to expertise it than I’m cautious concerning the dangers. There’ll by no means be an ideal time, I’ve to grab the second.”
Norbert Michelisz
Photograph by: MGR Photographs
Switching from circuit racing to rallying will present a major problem that Michelisz admits would be the “largest” of his profession so far.
“I have no idea the phases, I’ve examined the automobile solely as soon as round Pécs, which suggests little or no expertise” Michelisz defined.
“I’ve analysed many onboard digicam footage, I’ve practised methods to write the street e-book, however even when I put together day and evening, I’ll know the place I’m solely within the race.
“Even an skilled rally racer can simply discover himself in a troublesome state of affairs, so I’ve to handle the chance notably effectively. I feel it will likely be the largest problem of my profession.
“My aim is to complete the race. As of the outcome, I’m not planning something upfront, as a result of ERC subject could be very sturdy. I’ve good recollections on racing in entrance of house crowd, however this will likely be totally different now from the Hungaroring. I’m trying ahead to the brand new expertise.”