Focus on: Niels Langeveld, #9 in the TCR World ranking 22.02.2023: This week, we focus on 2022 TCR Italy champion Niels Langeveld, a driver with experience in a number of TCR categories, first as a regular race-winner with Audi in two years of the TCR Germany championship, before stepping up to the WTCR FIA World Touring

This week, we focus on 2022 TCR Italy champion Niels Langeveld, a driver with experience in a number of TCR categories, first as a regular race-winner with Audi in two years of the TCR Germany championship, before stepping up to the WTCR FIA World Touring Car Cup in 2019.




 Langeveld returned to touring cars after a year out in 2021, driving the new Hyundai Elantra for Sébastien Loeb Racing in TCR Europe, before reuniting with Target Competition in TCR Italy last year, rocketing to the drivers’ title with four race wins at Vallelunga, Imola, Mugello and Monza.



Langeveld’s performances over the last two years sees him placed ninth in the new TCR World Ranking, safely a qualifier for the TCR World Ranking Final, which will be held after the conclusion of the 2023 TCR World Tour season.



“2021 wasn’t quite what we hoped. With Sébastien Loeb Racing and Hyundai the goal was to win the championship, and when we didn’t achieve that, the alternative I found last year was to do TCR Italy,” said Langeveld. “This turned out to be a good choice, as we won the title.



There was a massive grid, a lot of cars and a high level of competition – comparable almost to TCR Germany in 2017-18. I have to say also that TCR Italy is a well-organised championship. The races are on television there, there’s good coverage, the only problem for me and my fans at home is it’s just in Italian!”



“I felt really welcomed, there’s a great atmosphere in the paddock, and some amazing tracks as well with great histories, so yes, I really enjoyed my time there, and also with the team – as I know them back from 2015, so we had a lot of fun, and in the end when it mattered, we had really good results.”



On his placing in the new TCR World Ranking, the Dutchman said: “On one hand, I was surprised about my high ranking, but on the other hand I wasn’t. In TCR Europe, I was scoring consistently, I had five fourth place finishes and two podiums, so I was fairly steady scoring with very few DNFs.



Then last year I was in the top eight every time I finished a race and with four wins and six podiums. It’s important to win a championship to try to score every weekend, and that’s also the key also for me to be high in the TCR World Ranking.”



Langeveld’s attention is now maximising his title success in 2022, looking to move back to TCR Europe, but also defending his Italian title is also an option.



“At the moment, it’s not easy – the target is to go back to TCR Europe, but I could also go back to TCR Italy, as I really enjoyed racing there. I’m working with some teams and am looking for good proposal. As a champion, there’s something in it for me as well. I don’t have the same budget as other drivers or factory drivers, so it’s all about trying to find the right team and sponsors.”





 Fabio Ravaioli - photo  ACI Sport