TCR – Stefano Comini crowned in Macau

Behind his rival James Nash (Seat Leon – Craft-Bamboo Racing) before the two rounds in Macau, Stefano Comini (Volkswagen Golf GTi – Leopard Racing) knew the equation to retain his TCR International Series title obtained in 2015.

Getting ahead of Nash was a priority for Comini on the Guia track where the Volkswagen Golfs quickly showed their advantage, as demonstrated by the pole position won in the rain by Frenchman Jean-Karl Vernay (Leopard Racing).

From the start of the first race, Comini took off ahead of Tiago Monteiro (Honda Civic – WestCoast Racing) and Vernay. But the first round was marked by several incidents, including that of Gianni Morbidelli who was surprised at Mandarin. The red flag is deployed on the second lap to take care of the various damaged cars.

On the restart on the 4th lap, Comini remained in the lead, but the safety car was called onto the track following a collision between James Nash and Mat O'Homola. Nash was forced to retire with a suspension problem, and the race did not complete its initial distance. Half the points are awarded and Comini, winner ahead of Vernay and Monteiro, thus returns to Nash's wake in the standings, half a point separating the two rivals.

The second race saw Tiago Monteiro take the best start against Comini and Vernay before the event was interrupted after three laps by a red flag following Sunny Wong's accident. The competitors will ultimately only compete in two additional short laps in racing conditions.

Monteiro retains the lead of the race at the restart, while Jean-Karl Vernay takes the advantage over his teammate Stefano Comini. The latter, who favored caution with James Nash relegated far in the ranking, will be passed immediately by Pepe Oriola (Seat Leon – Craft-Bamboo Racing).

Monteiro won under the checkered flag ahead of Vernay and Oriola, while with his fourth place, and the eighth of James Nash, Stefano Comini won the TCR International Series title for the second year in a row.

Race 1 results

Race 2 results

Find the full report of the TCR Series final, produced by our special correspondent in Macau, in issue 2090 of AUTOhebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.