Esteban Guerrieri and ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport lead the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup at the halfway point of the season thanks to a hard-fought podium finish at the Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany.

Starting third, the Argentinian made a dynamite start to the third and final race of the weekend in his Honda Civic Type R TCR, briefly grabbing the lead on the run to the first corner, and drove a strong race to third place and his sixth podium of the year.

Remarkably, the Münnich team had helped him overcome a clutch issue that almost prevented him going to the final-race grid, and allowed him to increase his championship advantage to 45 points – that figure helped by a sixth-place finish in Race Two.

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport continue to hold the lead in the Teams’ Championship, fittingly leaving their home event with a 68-point advantage.

Starting 24th in the day’s first race due to the noise issues that led to him being denied the chance to set a fast lap in Friday’s second qualifying, Nestor Girolami was not a classified finisher.

A radiator change between races meant he had to start the final encounter from the pitlane, but he rallied to finish 18th, a result that maintained his fourth place in the points.

KCMG’s Attila Tassi claimed the best finish of his WTCR career with fifth place in Race One. Having been involved in several tough battles, the Hungarian held his own to record the result on a track he’d never driven on prior to this weekend.

A sensational start from eighth on the Race-Three grid brought him up to fourth spot immediately, but an engine issue put him out on the first lap as he looked to challenge for a podium finish.

Team-mate Tiago Monteiro was 14th in Race Two to record KCMG’s first double-points finish in WTCR, and the Portuguese made a strong start in Race Three as well.

Unfortunately he was spun at the opening corner by a rival and was relegated to the tail of the field. He recovered to 17th.

The next races take place at Vila Real, Portugal, in two weeks’ time.

Esteban Guerrieri

Esteban Guerrieri 86

“This is such a good way to end the weekend. A podium yesterday and now another today and we lead the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships. I was quite worried in the pitlane before Race Three because I had a clutch issue and I thought I’d be stuck, but my guys worked hard to fix it and two corners from the end of the formation lap, everything started working again. I made a great start, had a tough, but fair fight, with Benni [Leuchter] and scored some very good points. I probably drove a bit more aggressively than Dominik [Greiner, Team Manager] wanted, but I was thinking about the result, not the points. I’m very happy.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Nestor Girolami

Nestor Girolami 29

“It’s been a tough day, but we knew it would be after the noise issue in qualifying that left us at the back. I had a high water temperature in the first race so I decided to pull out of the fight to save the engine, and I had an issue with the splitter too, but the guys did a great job to change both pieces before Race Three. I had to start from the pitlane because they ran over the time limit, but this was probably a blessing because of the crashes at the first corner. I’m still fourth in the points because of my podium yesterday and because our big rivals did not score well, so the battle is still 100 per cent alive.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Attila Tassi

Attila Tassi 9

“I’m very pleased to have my best performance in the WTCR and also score my best result with fourth. I made a good start in Race Two, but my rear tyres weren’t up to temperature so I went sideways at the first corner. Then I got blocked aggressively, which let another car pass me. I could already feel I didn’t have full power, but I was able to go faster than the cars I was with on the Nordschleife. In Race Three I positioned myself well, got up to fourth and again pulled a gap on the Nordschleife, but I got the ‘low oil pressure’ alarm and then had to stop the car. I could have had good points there, but that’s racing…”

KCMG
Tiago Monteiro

Tiago Monteiro 18

“While it’s good to be back in the points, I think it should have been better given the pace we had in race trim. I was hit at the start of both races; most significantly in Race Three where [Tom] Coronel spun me at the first corner. From there, you’re always playing catch-up. I’m still feeling good because I have 24-hour race to come here at the Nurburgring with the Civic Type R TCR and we’ll fight to be on the podium at the very least.”

KCMG
Dominik Greiner

Dominik Greiner

Team Manager

“This was an amazing weekend for us. We’ve increased our lead in the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships and seen our key rivals not have the kind of scores that we expected, so it’s helped us. Esteban did a fantastic job all weekend to take two podiums and Bebu could have done the same if it had not been for the noise issue in qualifying that wasn’t anybody’s fault. I have to say what an amazing job the guys did to change Bebu’s radiator between the races today and to get Esteban’s clutch working again because without this, we wouldn’t have had the same number of points. As a German team, we’re incredibly proud to leave our home circuit leading the WTCR.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Dario d’Esposito

Dario d'Esposito

Team Principal

“I’m thrilled for Attila. Fourth position is the least he deserves after an outstanding performance on his first time at the Nurburgring. He made a mistake at the first corner, but he learnt from it and made a fantastic start in Race Three. It’s a shame that he’s had his engine issue that’s prevented him from maybe being on the podium. Now everyone can see what he’s capable of. Tiago had a tough day and was hit in both races.”

KCMG
WTCR Race of Germany

Nürburgring, Germany

WTCR 2019, Round 5

Saturday 22 Jun 2019, 11:56 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 25 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen 3 laps
2 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 20 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +0.495
3 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 16 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +1.885
4 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 13 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +2.505
5 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 11 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +7.179
6 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 10 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +8.623
7 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 9 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +11.014
8 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 8 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +13.099
9 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 7 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +14.191
10 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 6 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +14.524
11 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 5 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +15.342
12 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 4 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +15.664
13 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 3 0 PWR Racing Cupra +16.146
14 Antti Buri 13 FIN 2 0 LMS Racing Audi +17.198
15 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 1 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +20.626
16 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +21.566
17 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 0 KCMG Honda +44.546
18 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +1:37.527
19 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +1 lap
NC Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen DNF
NC Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 0 KCMG Honda DNF
NC Thed Björk 11 SWE 0 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co DNF
NC Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 0 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai DNF
NC Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 0 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai DNF
NC Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co DNF
NC Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra DNF
NC Rob Huff 12 GBR 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen DNF
Saturday 22 Jun 2019, 10:41 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 25 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen 3 laps
2 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 20 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +5.108
3 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 16 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +10.891
4 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 13 0 KCMG Honda +11.827
5 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 11 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +12.340
6 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 10 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +17.591
7 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 9 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +22.715
8 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 8 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +23.072
9 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 7 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +23.657
10 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 6 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +24.329
11 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 5 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +24.902
12 Antti Buri 13 FIN 4 0 LMS Racing Audi +26.773
13 Thed Björk 11 SWE 3 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +27.121
14 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 2 0 PWR Racing Cupra +27.178
15 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 1 0 KCMG Honda +27.626
16 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 0 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +29.256
17 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +29.647
18 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra +29.839
19 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +30.559
20 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +30.810
21 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 0 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +31.157
22 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 0 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +31.839
23 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 0 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +32.385
24 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 0 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +41.180
25 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +2:49.920
NC Rob Huff 12 GBR 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen DNF
NC Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co DNF
Friday 21 Jun 2019, 17:08 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 25 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai 3 laps
2 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 20 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +1.762
3 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 16 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +3.741
4 Rob Huff 12 GBR 13 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +4.041
5 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 11 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +7.036
6 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 10 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +7.239
7 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 9 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +7.354
8 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 8 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +7.514
9 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 7 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +7.816
10 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 6 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +8.656
11 Thed Björk 11 SWE 5 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +8.975
12 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 4 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +9.480
13 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 3 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +13.529
14 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 2 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +14.248
15 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 1 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +16.823
16 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 0 KCMG Honda +17.115
17 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 0 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +17.459
18 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra +17.625
19 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +18.125
20 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 0 KCMG Honda +19.083
21 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 0 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +19.323
22 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +31.020
NC Antti Buri 13 FIN 0 0 LMS Racing Audi DNF
NC Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 0 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai DNF
NC Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 0 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi DNF
NC Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra DNF
NC Yvan Muller 100 FRA 0 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co DNF
Thursday 20 Jun 2019, 22:05 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 5 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen 9:51.317
2 Rob Huff 12 GBR 4 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +9:52.809
3 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 3 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +9:53.224
4 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 2 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +9:55.425
5 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 1 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +9:55.574
6 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +9:57.024
7 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +9:57.172
8 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 KCMG Honda +9:57.232
9 Antti Buri 13 FIN 0 LMS Racing Audi +9:57.291
10 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +9:57.497
11 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +9:58.444
12 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +9:59.414
13 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +10.00.776
14 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 KCMG Honda +10:01.827
15 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +10:02.541
16 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +10:02.557
17 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:04.554
18 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:04.746
19 Thed Björk 11 SWE 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:05.515
20 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:07.248
21 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +10:08.998
22 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 PWR Racing Cupra +10:18.123
23 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +10:21.225
24 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +10:25.268
25 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 0 PWR Racing Cupra +10:26.565
26 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +10:27.096
27 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +10:39.128
Thursday 20 Jun 2019, 17:45 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 5 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda 10:30.955
2 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 4 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +10:36.987
3 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 3 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +10:37.143
4 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 2 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +10:38.360
5 Thed Björk 11 SWE 1 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:39.037
6 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:39.356
7 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +10:39.878
8 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:40.372
9 Rob Huff 12 GBR 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +10:40.379
10 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +10:40.925
11 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +10:41.131
12 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +10:42.267
13 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +10:42.343
14 Antti Buri 13 FIN 0 LMS Racing Audi +10:42.505
15 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +10:43.086
16 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +10:43.183
17 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +10:43.643
18 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 PWR Racing Cupra +10:43.981
19 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +10.46.481
20 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 KCMG Honda +10:51.019
21 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 KCMG Honda +10.51.305
22 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +10:52.264
23 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +10:58.219
24 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +11:02.184
25 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +11:27.577
NC Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 0 PWR Racing Cupra DNF
NC Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi DNF
Driver Standings
Saturday, 22 Jun 2019
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr.
1 Esteban GUERRIERI 86 ARG 214 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda
2 Norbert MICHELISZ 5 HUN 169 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai
3 Thed BJöRK 11 SWE 159 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
4 Nestor GIROLAMI 29 ARG 154 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda
5 Frederic VERVISCH 22 BEL 132 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi
6 Gabriele TARQUINI 1 ITA 131 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai
7 Mikel AZCONA 96 SPA 124 PWR Racing Cupra
8 Yvan MULLER 100 FRA 113 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
9 Jean-Karl VERNAY 69 FRA 109 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi
10 Augusto FARFUS 8 BRA 99 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai
11 Nick CATSBURG 88 NDL 99 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai
12 Yann EHRLACHER 68 FRA 98 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
13 Benjamin LEUCHTER 33 GER 85 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen
14 Johan KRISTOFFERSSON 14 SWE 78 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen
15 Qing Hua MA 55 CHN 73 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo
16 Rob HUFF 12 GBR 72 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen
17 Aurélien PANIS 21 FRA 54 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi
18 Kevin CECCON 31 ITA 44 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo
19 Tom CORONEL 50 NDL 42 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra
20 Andy PRIAULX 111 GBR 37 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
21 Daniel HAGLOF 37 SWE 35 PWR Racing Cupra
22 Niels LANGEVELD 10 NDL 29 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi
23 Gordon SHEDDEN 52 GBR 29 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi
24 Attila TASSI 9 HUN 27 KCMG Honda
25 Mehdi BENNANI 25 MAR 22 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen
26 Tiago MONTEIRO 18 POR 21 KCMG Honda