FIA WTCR RACE OF SLOVAKIA
Slovakia Ring, 13-15 July 2018
WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO, Rounds 16-18 of 30
CUPRA STAR ORIOLA MAKES IT 10 DIFFERENT WINNERS WITH FIRST WTCR OSCARO VICTORY
*Tarquini narrows Muller’s title advantage to five points
*Cupra becomes sixth customer racing brand to win in WTCR OSCARO
*More firsts: maiden points for Dupont and Alfa Romeo-driving Giovanardi
Pepe Oriola claimed his and the Cupra TCR’s first victory of the
season at WTCR Race of Slovakia after a dramatic opening race for the
WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO at the Slovakia
Ring this afternoon.
The Team OSCARO by Campos Racing driver benefited from a poor
start for DHL Pole Position winner Gabriele Tarquini, then passed DG
Sport Compétition’s Aurélien Comte to take a lead he would not lose
despite having to defend following a mid-race safety car period.
“The car was fantastic,” said a delighted Oriola, winner number 10
in WTCR OSCARO. “I was a bit worried with the safety car, but I was
able to build a good gap. I’m really happy for my sponsors and to give
Cupra its first win in the WTCR. Now I’m looking forward to the second
qualifying session this afternoon.”
Tarquini uncharacteristically bogged down off the line at the
start, allowing Comte’s PEUGEOT 308 TCR, Oriola and Jean-Karl Vernay’s
Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team Audi RS 3 LMS to pass his BRC Racing Team
Hyundai i30 N TCR.
Oriola made his move for the lead on lap two, passing Comte as
Vernay also took advantage of the PEUGEOT’s lost momentum to further
demote the Frenchman. Comte then dropped to fourth as Tarquini recovered
one of his lost places on lap three.
The Audi R8 safety car interrupted the action on lap five after
Frédéric Vervisch’s Audi Sport Team Comtoyou Audi was stranded next to
the track after the Belgian went off.
Racing resumed on lap seven after Oriola had backed up the field
before accelerating hard out of the final corner. The stewards
investigated his actions, but decided upon nothing more than a warning.
“I needed to open up a gap again, so I slowed everyone down,” said
Oriola. “It is the leader’s choice, so I don’t think it would have been
fair to be penalised.”
Oriola kept clear of Vernay to win by 1.734s, with Tarquini taking
a consolation podium following his poor start and ensuring three
customer racing brands filled the top three places. Oriola's win also
means six customer racing brands have triumphed in WTCR OSCARO.
Comte clung on to fourth place despite a determined challenge from
Fabrizio Giovanardi, who delivered Team Mulsanne its first points in
his Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR. The Italian rose from P12 on the grid to a
P5 finish after a brilliant drive.
The Honda Civic Type R TCRs of ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport’s
Yann Ehrlacher and Boutsen Ginion Racing’s Tom Coronel were P6 and P7
respectively, ahead of Audi Sport Team Comtoyou’s RACB National
Team-backed Denis Dupont – who claimed his first points – and Aurélien
Panis. Nathanaël Berthon completed the top 10 in his Audi.
The YMR Hyundais of Yvan Muller and Thed Björk made good progress
up the field after their back-of-the-grid penalties following
qualifying, but both just missed out on scoring points. Muller finished
in P12 behind Zengő Motorsport’s Norbert Nagy, with Björk in P13 after
both Hyundais demoted local hero Mato Homola in the closing stages, the
Slovak struggling with handling issues following early contact.
BRC Racing Team’s Norbert Michelisz, whose Hyundai was also
demoted to the back of the grid after qualifying, fared less well. He
could only finish in P23 behind wildcard entry Andrej Studenic in his
Brutal Fish Racing Team Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR. The other wildcard,
Petr Fulín, finished in P15 in his Fullin Race Academy Cupra.
ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport’s Esteban Guerrieri was out of
luck in his Honda after contact on the first lap forced him to pit with
left-rear suspension damage. The Argentinian, who had started fourth on
the grid, lost what looked to be a certain top six finish.
Second Qualifying at WTCR Race of Slovakia takes place from 15h10 local time. Race 2 follows at 19h00. Click here to find out how to watch the action live.