Motor Sports

Mitchell sets sights on Red Bull Ring podium

AFTER months on the sidelines, national racing driver Mitchell Cheah left for Austria yesterday to compete in the German Touring Car Championship (TCR Germany) as a replacement driver for Hyundai Team Engstler.

Mitchell will compete in two races at the Red Bull Ring this weekend filling in for Team Engstler's Nico Gruber.

Gruber will be competing in the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) at Hungaroring this weekend, himself as a replacement for Nicky Catsburg who is unavailable for the race.

Mitchell, who had competed as a full season driver in TCR Germany last year, hopes to make an immediate impact.

The Red Bull Ring circuit is a track that the 22-year-old is quite familiar with.

"Last year I managed to achieve my maiden podium finish in TCR Germany during the Austrian round," said Mitchell, prior to departure at Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

"But the situation is a little bit different this time. I was driving a Volkswagen last year but this time I will be racing in a Hyundai (i30 N TCR), so I will need to adapt.

"My target is the same which is to do my best to win the race and bring back the best possible result for Malaysia," said Mitchell who finished 11th overall in the TCR Germany driver standings last year.

Mitchell thanked Sepang International Circuit, Sports Ministry, Health Ministry, Home Ministry and the National Security Council for providing him with the necessary documentation and approvals for him to be able to compete abroad.

It has otherwise been a slow year for Mitchell who was scheduled to compete in the TCR Asia series this year. The Asian championship has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

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