C1 – Guerrieri first winner of the year in Marrakech

Stephen Guerrieri (Honda) proved untouchable this Saturday April 6 in Marrakech (Morocco). The Argentinian transformed his pole position to victory in Race 1, becoming the first winner of the 2019 World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) season.

FINISH! First winner of the 2019 season @E_Guerrieri Well done team pic.twitter.com/ln9EZuIDIc

— FIA WTCR / Oscaro (@FIA_WTCR) April 6th

Author of a better takeoff, Thed Björk (Lynk & Co) however left the door open at the first braking, which took advantage of the Münnich Motorsport driver. Esteban Guerrieri then never let go of first place until the end of the 18 laps of effort.

On the other hand, the fight for the last step of the podium was more indecisive. Jean-Karl Vernay (Audi), who started sixth, was pressing on Andy Priaulx (Lynk & Co) until the two men touched at the start of the fifth lap. The Frenchman, found guilty by the stewards, was given a five-second penalty. He fell from third to seventh place in the final.

It is therefore Nestor Girolami (Honda) who recovers the stake, he who had started badly when the lights went out. The outgoing champion Gabriele Tarquini (Hyundai) grabs a place with 4th position. 

Yann Ehrlacher (Lynk & Co) gained no place, but lost nothing, and finished eighth. His uncle Yvan Muller (Lynk & Co), who started from the back of the grid due to an engine change, is 18th. 

It's becoming a habit, punctures have affected a fringe of the peloton. Aurélien Panis (Cupra), Daniel Haglöf (Cupra), Attila Tassi (Honda), outgoing World RX champion Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen) and Mehdi Bennani (Volkswagen) were victims. Finally, Tom Coronel (Cupra) and Niels Langeveld (Audi) retired after leaving the road. 

WTCR 2019 Marrakech – Race 1 Results: