Aku Pellinen returns to Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps – one of his all-time favourite racetracks – for the third instalment of his maiden TCR International Series campaign, and the young Finn plans to push for the podium in Belgium’s Ardennes Forest (6-7 May).
Pellinen is arguably the find of the TCR International season, as he has raced competently against vastly more experienced opposition on unchartered territory and with unfamiliar machinery to date in Bahrain and Portugal.
He delivered solid points finishes for seventh and sixth place results at Circuito do Estoril, but has already marked himself out as a consistent podium threat and somebody who has the potential to be a force in the uppermost echelons of ‘tin-top’ racing.
Spa has been a happy hunting ground for Pellinen during his ascent up the motorsport ladder and he believes his knowledge and experience of the historic and technically demanding circuit puts him on the front foot for the TCR International Series’ maiden outing in Belgium.
“I am very familiar with Spa, having raced there several times in practically every category I’ve entered,” said Pellinen. “I think that puts me on the front foot going into this weekend, because, not only have I had good results there in previous years, but I know how difficult it is to understand how to extract the most from each of the circuit’s corners and its intricacies. You have to be quite brave and it isn’t a track you can learn in just a few laps.”
However, the young Finn acknowledges that there is work to be done and he will collaborate with his WestCoast Racing team to optimise his Honda Civic TCR for the wide-ranging demands of Spa, with a particular focus on achieving consistency over the course of a single lap and a race distance.
“It’s not going to be easy for WestCoast Racing and our rival teams to prepare cars for Spa, but I think we can do a good job together,” said Pellinen. “The podium is my first aim, but I know I need to improve my driving style and the car to prevent silly mistakes, and that I need to be more constant in qualifying and the races.”
There is a change in the TCR International Series’ usual format, as two 30-minute free practice sessions will be held at 11.30 and 15.45 on Thursday (5 May), with qualifying at 13.40 and race one at 17.30 on Friday (6 May) afternoon and race two on Saturday (7 May) at 12.35.