Norbert Michelisz

Preparation is key in motor racing. And this is exactly why Norbert Michelisz and the MOL Group Zengő Motorsport team spent the morning at Slovakia Ring fine-tuning the set-up of the No. 5 Honda Civic WTCC with the aim of getting a good spot on the grid for the 2015 FIA WTCC Race of Slovakia on Sunday.

In Free Practice 1 Norbert improved his personal best by 0,3 seconds and claimed sixth, just behind Honda works driver Gabriele Tarquini. Free Practice 2, however, saw the Hungarian driver leave the track and ride through the gravel trap in the final corner of the 5.9 kilometer track. He was classified 15th in the end, his car luckily not having sustained too much damage.

"FP1 was a slight improvement compared to yesterday", Norbert says. "The car improved in some areas and we know where we can improve it even more. Plus I know where I have to improve in terms of driving. But we are getting there."

"FP2 was difficult", he continues. "In the beginning I got almost stuck in the gravel trap but fortunately I was able to escape and go back to the pits." And in Norbert's opinion the time-sheet does not tell the whole story: "P15 is not our real performance. It may not be visible from the lap-times but the car has improved a lot. I am quite confident for qualifying. We aim for a top 6 spot."

But there is a big question mark looming over the WTCC paddock at Slovakia Ring, as the No. 5 Honda Civic driver points out: the weather. "Up until now all session were held in the dry. There could be some rain for qualifying which would make things interesting", Norbert says. "Hopefully it will be a good day for us as there are a lot of Hungarian fans in the grandstands already."

You can follow Norbert Michelisz and the MOL Group Zengő Motorsport team online at FIAWTCC.com where live timing will be provided for all sessions. The Eurosport network will broadcast both races live or time-delayed on TV.

Results Free Practice 1 (Top 5)
01. José María López (Citroën) – 2:05,201 minutes
02. Robert Huff (Lada) – 2:05,917
03. Qing-Hua Ma (Citroën) – 2:06,139
04. Jaap van Lagen (Lada) – 2:06,189
05. Gabriele Tarquini (Honda) – 2:06,252
06. Norbert Michelisz (Honda) – 2:06,360

Results Free Practice 2 (Top 5)
01. Yvan Muller (Citroën) – 2:05,057 minutes
02. José María López (Citroën) – 2:05,168
03. Sébastien Loeb (Citroën) – 2:05,220
04. Hugo Valente (Chevrolet RML) – 2:05,535
05. Rob Huff (Lada) – 2:05,550

Source: zengomotorsport.hu