The 2016 TCR International series kicked off with a breath – taking night race during the Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix. One of the good surprises of the opening race of the 2016 TCR International Series was Data Kajaia. The Georgian driver of Liqui Moly Team Engstler was one of those who fought most in the night Race 1 and finished in a good 9th position.

“It was fun,” he reckons, “I had a bad start, spinning my wheels, which cost me some positions and got me sandwiched at first corner. There were contacts on both sides of the car and the steering got damaged, but I tried to push hard anyway. I had good fights with Grachev and Homola, who managed to pass me again in the very last corner.”

The 34-year-old from Tbilisi will be under the spotlights this afternoon, as he will start Race 2 from pole position, courtesy of the reversed grid. A prospect that keeps him a little bit stressed: “I hope to have a better start than yesterday and to make the best use of the good position. I know it will be hard, I still lack experience at this very high level of competition, but I’ll do my best. Yesterday’s race was very useful to get to know the Golf Gti TCR in race conditions. We still have a lot of work to do with the car, as the SEAT León and the Honda Civic are quicker on the straights.”