Ehrlacher takes Esports WTCR Pre-Season lead

There are virtual birthday gifts sweeter than a greeting card sent by email. This is what he experienced Yann Erlacher (Lynk & Co) on Sunday July 5. The Frenchman, who celebrated his 24th birthday the day before, won one of the two races of the Esports WTCR Pre-Season in Ningbo and became the new championship leader.

The competition, contested on the RaceRoom PC simulation, has indeed entered its final phase. Only two “double-headers” remain to be contested while the first six drivers are barely separated by 21 points!

The Alsatian grows in power over the Sunday meetings. Winner at the Slovakia Ring the previous week, he did it again on the Chinese track after a pole position. “I had a good start, then I had difficulty with my braking points, specifies Yvan Muller’s nephew. I even missed my string stitches. 

Then, Mikel (Azcona), caught up with me, he started fighting with Bebu (Girolami) and Esteban (Guerrieri) and this allowed me to gain a two-second lead, which I was able to maintain until the finish. »

Race 2 and its reverse grid principle would allow another Frenchman to stand out: Aurélien Comte (Peugeot ). Le Girondin mena quelques boucles avant de céder face aux assauts du champion sortant de la Coupe du monde des voitures de tourisme, Norbert Michelisz (Hyundai). 

Esports WTCR Pre-Season overall standings after 8 races:

1. Yann Erlacher (Lynk & Co) 129 points

2. Norbert Michelisz (Hyundai) 123

3. Esteban Guerrieri (Honda) 12

4. Mato Homola (Hyundai) 117

5. Attila Tassi (Honda) 108

6. Mikel Azcona (Cupra) 108

7. Néstor Girolami (Honda) 92

8. Niels Langeveld (Audi) 87

9. Bence Boldizs (Cupra) 69

10. Aurélien Comte (Peugeot) 44