WTCR Race of Germany Esteban Guerrieri led a double-podium finish for the Honda Civic Type R in a dramatic opening race at the Nurburgring, to increase his lead in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup.
The ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport driver, who had qualified on pole position, lost the advantage at the start, but held firm in second place throughout the three-lap race on the fearsome Nordschleife.
His fifth podium finish of the year allowed him to increase his advantage at the head of the Drivers’ standings to 28 points while Münnich Motorsport now lead the Teams’ title race by 73 points.
Team-mate and fellow Argentinian Nestor Girolami produced the most heart-stopping action of the race, going three-wide in the battle for the final podium position down the ultra-long Dottinger Hohe straight, but surviving intact.
A no-holds-barred battle for third on the final lap was resolved in his favour as he snatched his fifth podium finish of the year to sit fourth in the standings, just seven points away from second.
KCMG drivers Tiago Monteiro and Attila Tassi both made strong progress from their starting spots.
From 19th on the grid, Tiago fought hard for the final point, eventually missing out on the final lap by less than 0.3 seconds and finishing 16th.
After his 10-place grid penalty from qualifying was switched to Race One by event officials, Attila Tassi started 27th and last. But a terrific start allowed him to gain five places on the first lap.
He looked set to make up even more spots when several cars ahead of him collided on the grand prix loop on lap two, but he was an innocent victim as one of them drove into him anyway. He finished 20th.
Two races take place tomorrow, which will bring the WTCR to its halfway point.
