C3 – Björk winner, Muller stopped, Tarquini leader

A little over an hour after a lively Race 2 in Ningbo (China), the lead in the general classification of the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) has changed again. Gabriele tarquini (Hyundai) did not win this final event of the weekend, but his second place allows him to conclude the meeting with 10 points ahead of Yvan Muller (Hyundai).

Starting ninth, the boss of his own team did not register a single unit due to a puncture and various collisions. “The right front shock absorber bent on the first turn due to right front contact. I didn't take any risks and changed tires, explains the Alsatian.

 There was a lot of impact during these first laps, I don't know who hit me. » The Frenchman (withdrawal) even concedes second place in the general classification, to the benefit of his teammate Thed Bjork (Hyundai).

The Swede was not at all worried by a half-hour interruption (to repair damaged kerbs) and kept first place from start to finish. This second victory in two days allows him to move closer to just nine points behind Gabriele Tarquini.

Third, Denis Dupont (Audi) achieved the best performance of his season with Comtoyou Racing. On the French side, Nathanaël Berthon (Audi) finished eighth, having overtaken his teammate Aurelien Panis (Audi) on the last lap.

German debutant Timo Scheider (Honda) misses the top 10 by one position. Jean Karl Vernay (Audi) does not score a point (12th), just like Aurélien Comte (Peugeot , 16th), Yann Erlacher (Honda, 19th starting from the pits after his crash in Race 2) and John Filippi (Cupra, 20th).

Find the analysis of the WTCR meeting in Ningbo in issue 2185 of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands.

WTCR standings 2018 Race 3 at Ningbo:

Drivers' Championship after Race 3 in Ningbo: