Race Report

One-two finish in Slovakia for Civic Type R TCR

WTCR Race of Slovakia

Slovakia Ring, Slovakia

WTCR 2019, Round 3

The Honda Civic Type R TCR scored a sensational one-two finish at the Slovakiaring as ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport duo Nestor Girolami and Esteban Guerrieri increased their advantage at the head of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup.

Starting second on Race Two’s partially-reversed grid, ‘Bebu’ disputed the lead for the opening laps, before moving to the front at one-third distance and pulling away to his third victory in four races and the fourth of the season for the team.

Team-mate Esteban made a rocket start from sixth to climb to third place at the start, and moved into the runner-up spot towards the end; securing his third podium of the season.

Added to sixth place in Race Three and 15th in Race One – after a sterling recovery from being punted off the track and rejoining last – Esteban’s results closed him to within two points of Bebu at the head of the championship.

This is because Bebu was himself eliminated on the opening lap of Race One after contact with multiple cars, and was pushed into the gravel at high speed in Race Three, from which he could only recover to 24th.

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport lead the Teams’ standings by 50 points.

KCMG drivers Tiago Monteiro and Attila Tassi had a tough task ahead of them after both drivers suffered bad luck in qualifying.

Tiago finished 17th in all three races; a likely points finish from 21st on the Race-One grid disappearing due to a slow puncture; most probably due to running over debris on the first lap.

Attila, meanwhile, was run off the road on the opening lap of two of the day’s three races; each time having pit to have debris removed from his radiator grille to prevent overheating. His best result was 18th in Race One.

The series continues next weekend at the legendary Zandvoort circuit in the Netherlands.

2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
Nestor Girolami

Nestor Girolami 29

“To win for the third time in just two events is fantastic and I think we did a great job as a team here at the Slovakiaring. We knew it would be tough here because the compensation weight gave us the heaviest car, but we maximised what was possible in Race Two and thankfully the big scorers this weekend were not our main rivals for the championship. The target for this weekend was damage limitation, so we did that, we’re still ahead in the points and we should be in a better situation with the weight at Zandvoort. I leave here very happy.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Esteban Guerrieri

Esteban Guerrieri 86

“It’s been a good weekend overall. We expected it to be tough, especially with maximum compensation weight, but my target was 30-35 points and I scored 33, so we’ve definitely achieved our aims. A one-two is a great result for the team and we haven’t lost ground to our main rivals either. I think we did a very good job in qualifying and that set us up for today. The driving was hard up and down the field, but we got what we needed. I’m looking forward to Zandvoort and aiming high.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Tiago Monteiro

Tiago Monteiro 18

“This weekend has been hard. The races have been full of action, just as they were in Hungary, and there’s been lots of contact. I was hit so many times in the races and I had to push back myself. If we can qualify near the front, like we did in Morocco, we can score well. The frustrating thing is that we are closer to the front in qualifying than we were in Hungary – and on a longer circuit too – but because everyone is so similar on laptimes, it hasn’t moved us forward. We’re not a million miles away, we just need to improve in a few areas for qualifying and we can achieve some better finishes.”

KCMG
Attila Tassi

Attila Tassi 9

“I’d hoped for better, but the reality is that when you qualify lower than you want, it’s tough to make progress in this championship. Race One was OK and I could make some good progress up to the edge of the points, but then my tyres went away and I just had to get to the finish without attacking any more. Races Two and three were pretty much identical. I started quite well both times and then went off. In Race Two I had to drive off the circuit or have contact, and in Race Three I was pushed off. Both times the grass and stones came into the radiator so I had to pit to have it cleared or risk overheating. Results gone. I want better at Zandvoort.”

KCMG
Dominik Greiner

Dominik Greiner

Team Manager

“To win for the third time in just two events and score a one-two result is fantastic and I think we did a great job as a team this weekend to maximise what we could do with maximum compensation weight. The drivers were excellent, the engineers came up with good solutions to make sure we had a strong race car and the mechanics were just incredible to fix Bebu’s car between Races One and Two because he had major damage. The spirit in the team has never been better than it is right now and seeing the crews of the two cars work together was a real indication of that.”

ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport
Dario d’Esposito

Dario d'Esposito

Team Principal

“The race pace we had today was better than we could manage in qualifying, but when you start low down, this is compromised. We saw that today with both Tiago and Attila, who had some good speed, but had a lot of contact and no possibility for points. I’m concerned about the amount of contact we saw today and it’s becoming too common. Whether the drivers need to take a more common-sense approach or the race officials need to be more strict on what’s allowed isn’t for me to say, but every car in parc ferme had damage and while contact is a part of touring car racing, that’s not what we want to see.”

KCMG
Mads Fischer

Mads Fischer

TCR Project Leader, JAS Motorsport

“It’s fantastic to see the Civic Type R TCR take a one-two finish today. The Münnich team are operating at a very high level and both Bebu and Esteban are working very well together, even if both had some bad luck today with contact. KCMG had a tough weekend, but there’s very good potential there and when they can go through a complete event with a good qualifying, both drivers should score well.”

JAS Motorsport
WTCR Race of Slovakia

Slovakia Ring, Slovakia

WTCR 2019, Round 3

Sunday 12 May 2019, 16:31 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 25 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo 11 laps
2 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 20 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +0.242
3 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 16 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +0.694
4 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 13 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +11.818
5 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 11 0 PWR Racing Cupra +12.423
6 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 10 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +13.536
7 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 9 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +14.116
8 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 8 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +16.833
9 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 7 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +16.963
10 Luca Engstler GER 6 0 +17.997
11 Thed Björk 11 SWE 5 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +20.247
12 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 4 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +20.483
13 Rob Huff 12 GBR 3 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +22.259
14 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 2 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +23.749
15 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 1 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +25.427
16 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +25.724
17 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 0 KCMG Honda +26.041
18 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +26.398
19 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +28.218
20 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +28.402
21 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 0 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +31.706
22 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +34.320
23 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 0 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +35.050
24 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +57.914
25 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 0 KCMG Honda +1:14.131
26 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra +1 lap
27 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 0 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +1 lap
Sunday 12 May 2019, 15:10 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 25 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda 9 laps
2 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 20 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +0.651
3 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 16 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +0.983
4 Rob Huff 12 GBR 13 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +2.626
5 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 11 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +4.208
6 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 10 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +4.589
7 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 9 0 PWR Racing Cupra +5.094
8 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 8 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +7.987
9 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 7 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +8.346
10 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 6 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +11.640
11 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 5 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +14.726
12 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 4 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +17.832
13 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 3 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +18.095
14 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 2 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +21.386
15 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 1 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +21.664
16 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +22.367
17 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 0 KCMG Honda +22.918
18 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +23.421
19 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +28.727
20 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 0 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +2:14.971
21 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra +1 lap
22 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 0 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +2 laps
23 Thed Björk 11 SWE 0 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +2 laps
24 Luca Engstler GER 0 0 +2 laps
25 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 0 KCMG Honda +2 laps
NC Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen DNF
NC Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 0 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi DNF
Sunday 12 May 2019, 10:27 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 25 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi 2.834
2 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 18 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +3.243
3 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 16 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +7.503
4 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 13 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +13.949
5 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 11 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +14.426
6 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 10 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +20.055
7 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 9 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +20.274
8 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 8 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +20.463
9 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 7 0 PWR Racing Cupra +21.657
10 Luca Engstler GER 6 0 +22.328
11 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 5 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +22.532
12 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 4 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +24.017
13 Rob Huff 12 GBR 3 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +24.373
14 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 2 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +25.407
15 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 1 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +26.655
16 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 0 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +26.870
17 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 0 KCMG Honda +28.405
18 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 0 KCMG Honda +29.471
19 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 0 0 PWR Racing Cupra +29.757
20 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +30.061
21 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +30.230
22 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +31.896
23 Thed Björk 11 SWE 0 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +32.145
NC Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 0 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi DNF
NC Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen DNF
NC Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo DNF
NC Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda DNF
Friday 10 May 2019, 16:48 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 5 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai 2:09.639
2 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 4 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +2:09.746
3 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 3 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +2:10.114
4 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 2 PWR Racing Cupra +2:10.335
5 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 1 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +2:10.518
6 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo +2:10.870
7 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +2:10.943
8 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi +2:10.976
9 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda +2:11.352
10 Rob Huff 12 GBR 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +2:11.572
11 Thed Björk 11 SWE 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +2:12.024
12 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +2:12.215
13 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 0 PWR Racing Cupra +2:13.173
14 Luca Engstler GER 0 +2:13.250
15 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi +2:13.354
16 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai +2:13.430
17 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA 0 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai +2:13.545
18 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen +2:13.552
19 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +2:13.553
20 Yvan Muller 100 FRA 0 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +2:13.649
21 Attila Tassi 9 HUN 0 KCMG Honda +2:13.683
22 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi +2:13.855
23 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +2:13.911
24 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR 0 KCMG Honda +2:14.013
25 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA 0 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co +2:14.177
26 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen +2:15.305
27 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra +2:20.206
Friday 10 May 2019, 13:24 Europe/London
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Total Team Constructor Constr. Time/Gap
1 Nick Catsburg 88 NDL 5 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai 2:09.498
2 Norbert Michelisz 5 HUN 4 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai 2:09.526
3 Qing Hua Ma 55 CHN 3 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo 2:09.907
4 Daniel Haglof 37 SWE 2 PWR Racing Cupra 2:10.108
5 Tom Coronel 50 NDL 1 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra 2:10.154
6 Kevin Ceccon 31 ITA 0 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo 2:10.339
7 Jean-Karl Vernay 69 FRA 0 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi 2:10.374
8 Esteban Guerrieri 86 ARG 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda 2:10.382
9 Frederic Vervisch 22 BEL 0 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi 2:10.403
10 Mehdi Bennani 25 MAR 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen 2:10.430
11 Nestor Girolami 29 ARG 0 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda 2:10.495
12 Aurélien Panis 21 FRA 0 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi 2:10.511
13 Gabriele Tarquini 1 ITA 0 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai 2:10.517
14 Mikel Azcona 96 SPA 0 PWR Racing Cupra 2:10.544
15 Benjamin Leuchter 33 GER 0 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen 2:10.687
16 Niels Langeveld 10 NDL - Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi 2:10.746
17 Gordon Shedden 52 GBR - Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi 2:10.826
18 Yvan Muller 100 FRA - Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 2:10.944
19 Augusto Farfus 8 BRA - BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai 2:10.978
20 Luca Engstler GER - 2:11.005
21 Tiago Monteiro 18 POR - KCMG Honda 2:11.081
22 Johan Kristoffersson 14 SWE - Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen 2:11.212
23 Attila Tassi 9 HUN - KCMG Honda 2:11.307
24 Rob Huff 12 GBR - Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen 2:11.345
25 Thed Björk 11 SWE - Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 2:11.363
26 Yann Ehrlacher 68 FRA - Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 2:11.467
27 Andy Priaulx 111 GBR - Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co 2:11.697
Driver Standings
Sunday, 12 May 2019
# Driver Num Nationality Nat. Points Pts. Team Constructor Constr.
1 Nestor GIROLAMI 29 ARG 125 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda
2 Esteban GUERRIERI 86 ARG 123 ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport Honda
3 Norbert MICHELISZ 5 HUN 102 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai
4 Gabriele TARQUINI 1 ITA 96 BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse Hyundai
5 Thed BJöRK 11 SWE 87 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
6 Jean-Karl VERNAY 69 FRA 85 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi
7 Mikel AZCONA 96 SPA 82 PWR Racing Cupra
8 Frederic VERVISCH 22 BEL 72 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi
9 Qing Hua MA 55 CHN 70 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo
10 Yvan MULLER 100 FRA 65 Cyan Racing Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
11 Nick CATSBURG 88 NDL 56 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai
12 Augusto FARFUS 8 BRA 50 BRC Hyundai N LUKOIL Racing Team Hyundai
13 Yann EHRLACHER 68 FRA 44 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
14 Rob HUFF 12 GBR 44 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen
15 Kevin CECCON 31 ITA 39 Mulsanne Srl Alfa Romeo
16 Daniel HAGLOF 37 SWE 31 PWR Racing Cupra
17 Aurélien PANIS 21 FRA 29 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Audi
18 Tom CORONEL 50 NDL 24 Comtoyou DHL Team Cupra Racing Cupra
19 Niels LANGEVELD 10 NDL 22 Comtoyou Team Audi Sport Audi
20 Andy PRIAULX 111 GBR 22 Cyan Performance Lynk & Co Lynk & Co
21 Gordon SHEDDEN 52 GBR 22 Leopard Racing Team Audi Sport Audi
22 Tiago MONTEIRO 18 POR 20 KCMG Honda
23 Attila TASSI 9 HUN 16 KCMG Honda
24 Johan KRISTOFFERSSON 14 SWE 9 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen
25 Benjamin LEUCHTER 33 GER 8 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Volkswagen
26 Mehdi BENNANI 25 MAR 7 Sébastien Loeb Racing Volkswagen Motorsport Volkswagen
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels
2019 WTCR Race of Slovakia
Honda Pro Racing / David Noels