Race Report

Lessennes scores top-five for Honda Civic Type R TCR in Slovakia

14 Jul 2018

WTCR Race of Slovakia

Slovakia Ring, Slovakia

WTCR 2018, Round 6

Benjamin Lessennes scored a strong fifth place on the first day of WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup racing at the Slovakia Ring near Bratislava.

The Belgian started third on the partially-reversed grid and, after losing positions at the start, made up several places during the first half of the race to take his third top-five finish of 2018 for Boutsen Ginion Racing. He climbed from 23rd on the Race-One grid to 20th by the chequered flag.

His team-mate Tom Coronel started Race One from a season’s-best sixth place after an impressive run in qualifying and followed that up with seventh in the race – equalling his best result of 2018.

Unfortunately, a damper issue on the Race Two formation lap prevented him from taking the start and adding to his points total for the day.

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport driver Yann Ehrlacher maintained his third place in the Drivers’ Championship with a hard-fought sixth place in Race One.

The Frenchman agonisingly missed out on a spot in Q2 later in the day by just three hundredths of a second, meaning he qualified 13th. From there, he made up three positions to finish Race Two in 10th.

His team-mate Esteban Guerrieri was an impressive third-fastest in qualifying, which put him eighth on Race Two’s partially-reversed grid. After being forced to race with his qualifying set-up, he found the balance of the Civic Type R TCR was not ideal and finished ninth.

In the earlier race, which he started from sixth, opening-lap contact from a rival driver broke a left-rear toe-link and necessitated a pitstop for repairs, which dropped him out of contention.

The results from Race Two remain provisional pending the result of protests lodged by ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport and Boutsen Ginion Racing against exclusion from Saturday qualifying due to what were deemed to be incorrect boost pressures on all three cars.

2018 WTCR Race of Slovakia

Honda Pro Racing / David Noels

Benjamin Lessennes ⁶³

“Fifth place is a strong result; one of the best I’ve achieved in the WTCR. Of course, when you start third, you’re aiming for the podium and it’s a bit disappointing that I couldn’t achieve this. I was pushed out wide at the first corner, lost a lot of momentum and dropped four places, so that made the challenge a bit bigger. I was able to overtake two cars in one lap, manage my tyres so I still had grip at the end, and find a good balance. In Race One, starting from 23rd meant points were never going to be achievable, but I made up some places and we found some useful steps we could take for qualifying and Race Two.”

Boutsen Ginion Racing

Tom Coronel ⁹

“Sixth place is my best qualifying position of the season and seventh in Race One equals my best finish in 2018 too. Right from FP1, when I was fastest, the balance of the car and the speed has felt like a step forward from previous races, which is very positive. In second qualifying I focused on getting good corner exits and probably wasn’t aggressive enough on the entries. I lost some time and with the session being so tight, I ended up 18th. Then I had a clip come out of a damper on the warm-up lap and couldn’t start the race. Tomorrow’s another day and I’m looking forward to it.”

Boutsen Ginion Racing

Yann Ehrlacher ⁶⁸

“I was hoping for more from today, but sixth and 10th still means I’ve scored enough points to keep me third in the championship. Qualifying was pretty unlucky. I had cars either get in my way or make a mistake right in front of me on each of my fast laps, which meant I lost the chance to improve. Even then, my Q1 lap was only one tenth off fourth place, and I ended up 13th! It was hard to overtake on the track because in the conditions we’re in currently, there are some cars with some very high top speeds, and these are tough to race against.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport

Esteban Guerrieri ⁸⁶

“The Honda was extremely strong in qualifying trim. I felt confident to push all the time and a spot on the second row is exactly what was needed, so that’s good for tomorrow’s race. In Race One I was really unlucky because I had some contact on the first lap that broke my left-rear toe-link and that was that, so we lost the chance to see what the car was like running in the pack. When I was right behind another car, the loss of downforce really affected the balance and it wasn’t possible to make any progress.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport

Olivia Boutsen

Team Manager

“We’ve scored a fifth and a seventh place today, which is pretty good points for the team and for Benjamin and Tom. Benjamin lost track time in practice, so to have this level of pace today shows what a good job he’s done with his crew. I think with two more laps, he would have been even higher up in Race Two because he’d kept his tyres in a much better condition than the cars ahead of him. I’m sorry that Tom couldn’t start Race 3, because he showed good pace in Race One to equal his best finish of the season.”

Boutsen Ginion Racing

Dominik Greiner

Team Manager

“Pace-wise, we’re pretty pleased with what the cars were capable of today. Esteban’s qualifying performance was very strong. Unfortunately, because we only got the car back from Parc Ferme 15 minutes before the pre-grid, we were not able to change his set-up and this affected his race performance. Yann’s sixth place was strong this morning in Race One and he finished three places higher than he started Race Two, which is also good progress. We look forward to tomorrow.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport

Mads Fischer

TCR Project Leader, JAS Motorsport

“The performance of the cars this weekend has been solid and some useful points have been scored. Both teams have worked incredibly hard to find extra pace, Esteban did a very good job to qualify third for tomorrow’s third race, and I’m particularly happy to see Tom Coronel get his best qualifying result of the year. In the conditions we’re facing this weekend, some cars are much faster than we’re used to seeing and this has affected the results the Honda Civic Type R TCR could achieve today.”

JAS Motorsport

14 Jul 2018

WTCR Race of Slovakia

Slovakia Ring, Slovakia

WTCR 2018, Round 6

Saturday 14 Jul 2018, 18:49 Europe/London

#	Driver	Num	Nationality Nat.	Points Pts.	Team	Constructor Constr.	Time/Gap
1	Gabriele Tarquini	1	ITA	25	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	9 laps
2	Norbert Nagy	8	HUN	20	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	+2.150
3	Yvan Muller	48	FRA	16	YMR	Hyundai	+3.354
4	Pepe Oriola	74	SPA	13	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	+4.750
5	Benjamin Lessennes	63	BEL	11	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	+5.313
6	John Filippi	27	FRA	10	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	+5.892
7	Norbert Michelisz	5	HUN	9	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	+5.895
8	Frederic Vervisch	22	BEL	8	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	+13.578
9	Esteban Guerrieri	86	ARG	7	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	+14.194
10	Yann Ehrlacher	68	FRA	6	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	+14.540
11	Thed Björk	11	SWE	5	YMR	Hyundai	+14.851
12	Kevin Ceccon	31	ITA	4	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	+15.084
13	Nathanael Berthon	23	FRA	3	Comtoyou Racing	Audi	+15.300
14	Aurelien Comte	7	AND	2	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	+18.201
15	Fabrizio Giovanardi	88	ITA	1	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	+18.330
16	Zsolt Szabo	66	HUN	0	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	+20.283
17	Gordon Shedden	52	GBR	0	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	+21.177
18	Mato Homola	70	SLK	0	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	+21.606
19	Denis Dupont	20	BEL	0	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	+28.527
20	Andrej Studenic	17	SLO	0	Brutal Fish Racing Team	Volkswagen	+28.904
21	Petr Fulin	44	CZE	0	Fullin Race Academy	Cupra	+1 lap
22	Mehdi Bennani	25	MAR	0	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	+DNF
23	Rob Huff	12	GBR	0	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	+DNF
24	Aurélien Panis	21	FRA	0	Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing	Audi	+DNF
25	Jean-Karl Vernay	69	FRA	0	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	+DNF
26	Tom Coronel	9	NDL	0	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	+DNS

Saturday 14 Jul 2018, 15:13 Europe/London

#	Driver	Num	Nationality Nat.	Team	Constructor Constr.	Time/Gap
1	Norbert Michelisz	5	HUN	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	2:10.340
2	Aurelien Comte	7	AND	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	+2:10.577
3	Esteban Guerrieri	86	ARG	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	+2:11.078
4	Yvan Muller	48	FRA	YMR	Hyundai	+2:11.100
5	John Filippi	27	FRA	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	+2:11.631
6	Pepe Oriola	74	SPA	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	+2:11.101
7	Frederic Vervisch	22	BEL	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	+2:11.101
8	Benjamin Lessennes	63	BEL	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	+2:11.143
9	Gabriele Tarquini	1	ITA	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	+2:11.150
10	Norbert Nagy	8	HUN	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	+2:11.197
11	Nathanael Berthon	23	FRA	Comtoyou Racing	Audi	+2:11.255
12	Jean-Karl Vernay	69	FRA	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	+2:11.433
13	Yann Ehrlacher	68	FRA	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	+2:11.186
14	Kevin Ceccon	31	ITA	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	+2:11.198
15	Fabrizio Giovanardi	88	ITA	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	+2:11.268
16	Aurélien Panis	21	FRA	Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing	Audi	+2:11.279
17	Petr Fulin	44	CZE	Fullin Race Academy	Cupra	+2:11.326
18	Tom Coronel	9	NDL	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	+2:11,624
19	Thed Björk	11	SWE	YMR	Hyundai	+2:11.685
20	Mato Homola	70	SLK	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	+2:11.801
21	Zsolt Szabo	66	HUN	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	+2:11.813
22	Gordon Shedden	52	GBR	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	+2:12.028
23	Denis Dupont	20	BEL	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	+2:12.169
24	Mehdi Bennani	25	MAR	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	+2:12.197
25	Rob Huff	12	GBR	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	+2:12.375
26	Andrej Studenic	17	SLO	Brutal Fish Racing Team	Volkswagen	+2:13.666

Saturday 14 Jul 2018, 11:37 Europe/London

#	Driver	Num	Nationality Nat.	Points Pts.	Team	Constructor Constr.	Time/Gap
1	Pepe Oriola	74	SPA	25	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	11 laps
2	Jean-Karl Vernay	69	FRA	20	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	+1.734
3	Gabriele Tarquini	1	ITA	16	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	+2.374
4	Aurelien Comte	7	AND	13	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	+5.525
5	Fabrizio Giovanardi	88	ITA	11	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	+5.773
6	Yann Ehrlacher	68	FRA	10	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	+7.357
7	Tom Coronel	9	NDL	9	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	+7.725
8	Denis Dupont	20	BEL	8	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	+8.190
9	Aurélien Panis	21	FRA	7	Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing	Audi	+8.993
10	Nathanael Berthon	23	FRA	6	Comtoyou Racing	Audi	+9.813
11	Norbert Nagy	8	HUN	5	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	+11.517
12	Yvan Muller	48	FRA	4	YMR	Hyundai	+12.383
13	Thed Björk	11	SWE	3	YMR	Hyundai	+12.594
14	Mato Homola	70	SLK	2	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	+13.395
15	Petr Fulin	44	CZE	1	Fullin Race Academy	Cupra	+13.767
16	Kevin Ceccon	31	ITA	0	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	+14.019
17	Gordon Shedden	52	GBR	0	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	+15.569
18	John Filippi	27	FRA	0	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	+15.856
19	Rob Huff	12	GBR	0	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	+22.247
20	Benjamin Lessennes	63	BEL	0	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	+22.917
21	Mehdi Bennani	25	MAR	0	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	+24.338
22	Andrej Studenic	17	SLO	0	Brutal Fish Racing Team	Volkswagen	+24.575
23	Norbert Michelisz	5	HUN	0	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	+1 lap
24	Zsolt Szabo	66	HUN	0	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	+2 laps
25	Esteban Guerrieri	86	ARG	0	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	+4 laps
26	Frederic Vervisch	22	BEL	0	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	+DNF

Friday 13 Jul 2018, 17:40 Europe/London

#	Driver	Num	Nationality Nat.	Team	Constructor Constr.	Time/Gap
1	Gabriele Tarquini	1	ITA	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	2:09.464
2	Norbert Michelisz	5	HUN	BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse	Hyundai	2:09.664
3	Yvan Muller	48	FRA	YMR	Hyundai	2:10.281
4	Aurelien Comte	7	AND	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	2:10.326
5	Pepe Oriola	74	SPA	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	2:10.475
6	Esteban Guerrieri	86	ARG	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	2:10.487
7	Thed Björk	11	SWE	YMR	Hyundai	2:10.552
8	Jean-Karl Vernay	69	FRA	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	2:10.565
9	Tom Coronel	9	NDL	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	2:10.752
10	Yann Ehrlacher	68	FRA	ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport	Honda	2:10.870
11	Mato Homola	70	SLK	DG Sport Competition	Peugeot	2:11.030
12	Aurélien Panis	21	FRA	Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing	Audi	2:11.170
13	Denis Dupont	20	BEL	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	2:11.199
14	Nathanael Berthon	23	FRA	Comtoyou Racing	Audi	2:11.230
15	Fabrizio Giovanardi	88	ITA	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	2:11.284
16	Benjamin Lessennes	63	BEL	Boutsen Ginion Racing	Honda	2:11.368
17	Frederic Vervisch	22	BEL	Comtoyou Team Audi Sport	Audi	2:11.414
18	Norbert Nagy	8	HUN	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	2:11.514
19	Petr Fulin	44	CZE	Fullin Race Academy	Cupra	2:11.516
20	Gordon Shedden	52	GBR	Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport	Audi	2:11.646
21	Kevin Ceccon	31	ITA	Mulsanne Srl	Alfa Romeo	2:11.676
22	Zsolt Szabo	66	HUN	Zengo Motorsport	Cupra	2:11.808
23	Rob Huff	12	GBR	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	2:11.843
24	Mehdi Bennani	25	MAR	Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport	Volkswagen	2:12.366
25	Andrej Studenic	17	SLO	Brutal Fish Racing Team	Volkswagen	2:13.529
26	John Filippi	27	FRA	Team OSCARO by Campos Racing	Cupra	No time