It was dream debut for Daniel Miranda following his recent victory on his very first race weekend in the TCR Asia Series.
Supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, the driver from Cebu delivered a masterclass performance during the season opener at the Sepang International Circuit last April 5 to 7, with him being hailed as the top Asian driver of the series.
“Cebuana Lhuillier is proud to support an exceptional and talented athlete like Daniel. His strong showing and exceptional finish on his very first race is a testament of his talent and determination to raise the Philippine flag on the racing circuit. We are honored to be on Daniel’s team and we look forward to his succeeding races,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier.
The promising racer, meanwhile, was thankful for his feat and is already looking forward to conquering the next track.
“This is my first race in TCR Series Asia together with Eurasia and it has been quite a learning experience so far. I’m very happy with our podium finish on my debut and definitely looking forward to the next round at Zhuhai. We’re hoping to land on the podium again and score points for the championship. Thank you Cebuana Lhuillier for the support and everyone in the team and the family,” said Miranda.
The Filipino driver initially struggled with setup and electrical issues on the #20 Hyundai i30 N TCR of Eurasia Motorsport. This prevented him from Qualifying higher than P5 in QTT1 and P9 in QTT2 out of a 15-car grid.
The slight setback, however, didn’t stop Miranda from charging to the front of the pack in Race 1. A lightning quick start allowed him to move up from P9 up to P6 on the opening lap. He then had to defend his position for 11 grueling laps, which included a Safety Car period, and ensured that he safely crossed the finish line 6th overall and 2nd out of the Asian drivers.
Everything then came together for Miranda and Eurasia Motorsport in Race 2 on Sunday. Now with his car setup sorted and a front row start, the 22-year-old rocketed into the lead on the run to the first turn. He then opened an advantage in the opening laps until Diego Moran caught up and forced his way through on lap 5. Miranda put pressure on the Ecuadorian driver, but didn’t get the opportunity to overtake before the chequered flag dropped.
Still, he came home with a solid 2nd overall and 1st of the Asian drivers on his TCR Asia Series debut, besting more experienced competitors who have raced in WTCR, WTCC, and TCR.
“I’m very proud of what Daniel achieved. Our goal was to finish in the top five but 2nd overall and 1st amongst the Asian drivers exceeded all our expectations. He showed great maturity on his first TCR race and we hope to see more from in the coming races,” said driver coach and manager Roland Hermoso added.
Miranda and the rest of Eurasia Motorsport now prepare for the next event on May 3 to 5 at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China.”‹