Kevin Ceccon is ready to dive back into a world-class series by taking part in the FIA ETCR in 2022.
After surprising everyone in 2018 with his debut and successes in the FIA WTCR, the Italian now has another great opportunity to show his potential in the Discovery Sports Events electric tourism series.
Fresh from the 2021 season which saw him close to the title in TCR Italy with the Hyundai of Team Aggressive Italia, Ceccon has reached an agreement with Hyundai Motorsport to drive the Veloster N ETCR in the first three events of the year.
Subsequently, Nicky Catsburg will take over, but in the meantime the tests and the preparation together with his teammates Jean-Karl Vernay, Mikel Azcona and Norbert Michelisz have already given him the opportunity to get into the part at 100%, as he explains in this exclusive interview with Motorsport. com.
Hyundai Veloster N ETCR
Photo by: Hyundai Motorsport
Kevin, new challenge in a World Cup for you: how do you feel?
“I am ready and I hope to do well, but it will not be easy at all. I will only take part in three races and with a few km behind me because, in addition to some tests, there is no way to try as usual as it happens in other championships. . I hope to find a good rhythm quickly and I want to make my mark here too. “
What level of technical knowledge are you with the Veloster N ETCR?
“As I said, we have tried little and there is still a lot of work to be done, plus the weekend does not allow you to ride a lot with Free Practice because you start with the Battles almost immediately. But I can say that it is very different from a normal TCR. Let’s say that in terms of driveability it is similar to a GT, a car with which I was able to compete in 2017. The difficulty lies in managing the power because 500kW is really a lot to download to the ground. how many to use from time to time, but in any case it is not a simple car “.
Did you already know your teammates? Are they helping you integrate into the new world?
“I knew them all from the time of the WTCR, but we had never worked together. Azcona raced with Cupra until last year, so he has references on a different car, while Vernay is the only one who has experience with the Veloster N; they could say something to us that we are rookies in the series, but we are all united to try to do the best possible “.
Hyundai Veloster N ETCR
Photo by: Hyundai Motorsport
Do you already know who you will share the car with?
“At the moment it is not decided yet, I have some ideas, but in the tests we tried all kinds of different situations, with a very open mind. Probably the team will also wait for the last tests and maybe see what the others will do. there is also a strategic discourse and the variables are many, so we are waiting “.
After the adventure together in the WTCR, was there no way to race with Romeo Ferraris also in the ETCR?
“Our working relationship was interrupted at the end of 2019, from there there was no way to organize other programs, but not for problems between us, on the contrary. I have a wonderful relationship with Michela Cerruti and I always have a lot of respect for her and his team. It was simply a question of opportunity, we did not look for each other, but the great friendship remains, even if we are now adversaries “.
How did the opportunity with Hyundai Motorsport come about?
“We met in 2018 when I joined the WTCR, then the opportunity to join the official team has only just materialized. On this I would like to thank Gabriele Tarquini, since it was he who introduced me to the top and advised me on how to move. . It turned out to be very important. “
Kevin Ceccon, Aggressive Team Italia, Hyundai i30 N TCR
Photo by: ACI Sport
Last year in TCR Italy, however, you raced with a Hyundai, among other things, touching the title. Did he give you the opportunity to be seen?
“Yes, but in any case those of Hyundai already knew them and me. I honestly do not know if my results have helped, among other things we remember that since November in Hyundai Motorsport many things have changed because the Director has left, Andrea Adamo, and Sébastien Loeb Racing no longer follows the ETCR program. Then it is true that being in front always helps a lot! But life is made up of so-called ‘sliding doors’, sometimes you just need to be in the right place at the right time, not always there is a reason “.
The electric is often criticized by the public and also by some insiders: why did you choose it?
“Objectively, the format of the ETCR is really nice. Single battles, short races with big fights, fast and difficult cars to drive. The human being, basically, criticizes and is skeptical when he has something new in front of him, so there may be that do not like it immediately. In my opinion this series is not bad at all. Plus it is a new experience, in a world-class championship, with a factory team and a strong car in a competitive team. So why say no? I don’t see any negative sides in facing this challenge, other than the fact that I get back into the game. It’s tempting and intriguing, so I have absolutely nothing against it. “
Leaving aside the pandemic that in 2020 shuffled the cards a lot and threw so many programs into the air, did you blame a little for the fact that after the WTCR you did not find a seat to continue in the championship?
“I’m not a person who broods and thinks about these things, if anything I learn from my mistakes trying to come back stronger. I was given the opportunity to race in TCR Italy and I think we did a great job. Now there is this opportunity to return to a world-class series and let’s see what can be done. “
Kevin Ceccon, Aggressive Team Italia, Hyundai i30 N TCR
Photo by: ACI Sport
Opportunity as an official driver of a very large manufacturer, is it a responsibility you feel?
“Obviously representing a brand like this is something important. Personally I see it very much as a challenge and a wonderful possibility, because I don’t lack anything to be able to do well. I have the opportunity to show and demonstrate who I am and what I can do”.
Final mandatory question: expectations for this adventure?
“I’m honest: I don’t have any and I wouldn’t know how to get them! This is because everything is new to me, from the tracks, to the cars and then to the team and the championship. It will be a wonderful discovery and I am really energized and motivated, as well as curious. However, not knowing at what level our opponents will also be, I have no information on which to base myself to be able to unbalance myself, so the goal is to have fun and grow together with an official team of the highest level. “
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