Lynk & Co Cyan Racing Crowned World Champions in Macau

Lynk & Co Cyan Racing were crowned team World Champions in the 2023 TCR World Tour season finale – the ninth World Title of the Swedish outfit in just seven years – during the 70th Macau Grand Prix weekend.

Lynk & Co 03 TCR driver Yann Ehrlacher secured the vice-champion title this year after a tough final weekend on the streets of Macau, ending with a podium finish from eighth on the grid.

“I’m super proud of the team after the 2023 season, where we secured our ninth touring car world title in only seven seasons,” said Fredrik Wahlén, Team Manager of Cyan Racing.

“We were, of course, aiming for both titles this year, but our main goal was the teams’ title, which we secured with one race weekend to go. We’ve completed eight races in three challenging final weeks, and everyone has worked as a team to secure this result.”

“A big thanks to the team who has provided me with a perfect car in Macau, and for all of 2023, everyone has worked so hard for this. To end the season with a podium in Macau is nice, although we would have ended with a driver’s title. But we achieved our goal of the teams’ title already in Australia, and we will enjoy this now,” said Yann Ehrlacher.

Santiago Urrutia made it a Lynk & Co Cyan Racing double podium in the final race in Macau with a solid second-place finish.

“I’m thrilled to end the season on the podium. We’ve had a tough last race, lacking top speed compared to our competitors due to the balance of performance. We won the team championship, which is always our main goal. A big thanks to the team for a great season,” said Santiago Urrutia.

Thed Björk completed his 12^th season with Cyan Racing to finish seventh overall, the second-best-placed driver of the team this year in seventh position overall.

“The last race was tough as our competitors were much quicker on the straights. But we still managed to get second, third, fourth and fifth. In combination with the teams’ title this year, I am very proud that we have achieved together as a team,” said Thed Björk.

Ma Qing Hua ended the season with a top-five finish on the streets of Macau, again providing vital championship points to the team.

“It was a crazy race, trying to defend and attack simultaneously. I’m quite happy with the season and racing in Macau, which is a fantastic experience. A big thanks to everyone in the team and back home at the base for providing us with a fantastic Lynk & Co 03 TCR race car all season,” said Ma Qing Hua.

Lynk & Co Cyan Racing claimed the teams’ title with 977 points, a massive 167 points more than the closest competitors in the form of Audi.

Yann Ehrlacher secured the runner-up spot in the drivers’ championship, with team-mates Thed Björk, Santiago Urrutia and Ma Qing Hua in positions seven, eight and nine, respectively.

The 2023 teams’ title is the ninth touring car World Title of Cyan Racing since 2017.

“We congratulate everyone at Cyan Racing on their unprecedented success in world touring cars. Claiming a ninth-world title is something they can be thoroughly pleased with. The team has fought hard throughout a challenging TCR World Tour season, proving themselves as one of the all-time greats in this sport,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Geely Group Motorsport.

2017 – Drivers’ title – Thed Björk
2017 – Team/Manufacturers’ title
2018 – Teams’ title
2019 – Teams’ title
2020 – Drivers’ title – Yann Ehrlacher
2020 – Teams’ title
2021 – Drivers’ title – Yann Ehrlacher
2021 – Teams’ title
2023 – Teams’ title

TCR World Tour – Race of Macau

Macau Circuito da Guia

Results

Qualifying
Race 1
Race 2

Final standings – Drivers – Top 5

1 – Norbert Michelisz 440
2 – Yann Ehrlacher 430 (-10)
3 – Rob Huff 414 (-26)
4 – Frédéric Vervisch 347 (-93)
5 – Mikel Azcona 341 (-99)
…
7 – Thed Björk 320 (-120)
8 – Santiago Urrutia 283 (-157)
9 – Ma Qing Hua 265 (-175)

Final standings – Teams – Top 5

1 – Cyan Racing Lynk & Co 977 pts
2 – Audi Sport Comtoyou 810 (-167)
3 – BRC Hyundai 805 (-172)
4 – ALM Motorsport Honda 182 (-795)
5 – Wall Racing 169 (-808)

2023 TCR World Tour Calendar

28-30 April – Portimao – Portugal
26-28 May – Spa – Belgium
09-11 June – Vallelunga – Italy
16-18 June – Hungaroring – Hungary
18-20 August – El Pinar – Uruguay
25-27 August – San Luis – Argentina
03-05 November – Sydney Motorsport Park – Australia
10-12 November – Bathurst – Australia
17-19 November – Macau – China