GT / Tourism

C3 – Michelisz WTCR champion at Sepang despite Guerrieri’s offensive

Norbert Michelisz wins his first World Tourism title after a completely eventful race in Sepang (Malaysia). Esteban Guerrieri suffered engine problems.

Published on 15/12/2019 à 14:42

Medhi Casaurang

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C3 – Michelisz WTCR champion at Sepang despite Guerrieri’s offensive

Suspense, overtaking, collisions, rain, a drying track in places and the night of Sepang (Malaysia). These are the ideal ingredients for a race in many epic points.

La principale attraction de la Course 3 consistait à élucider le duel entre Norbert Michelisz (Hyundai) et Esteban Guerrieri (Honda). Le Hongrois, dont l’avance sur l’Argentin était brusquement tombée à 10 points après la Course 2, a été poussé dans ses retranchements dès le départ.

More courageous at the first braking, Esteban Guerrieri gained ground while Norbert Michelisz struggled in a small surly group. The trophy changed hands several times during the first few rounds of incredible intensity. Esteban Guerrieri even went through the wet grass before staying in the lead!

 

Unfortunately, the Münnich Motorsport driver then fell back in the peloton due to damage to the engine of his Civic Type-R. Too bad because the former single-seater driver could have won the big prize. It is therefore Norbert Michelisz, often placed but never winning in WTCC or WTCR, who snatches the best driver cup. 

To win this race, you needed a tightrope walker, a master of tricky conditions. The gifted Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen) did not need to be asked. The resident of Sébastien Loeb Racing, new to the category, signs its second success of the year, after a high-level duel with Mikel Azcona (Cupra).

The Spaniard, also a debutant in the championship, still finished the exercise in fifth place, ahead of… Johan Kristoffersson. 

Having left the fight for the title an hour earlier, Yvan Muller (Lynk&Co) did not influence the progress of the final (13th). The Frenchman consoles himself with the coronation on the Team side for Cyan Racing with the Swede Thed Björk.

Find in the next issue of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands, the analysis of the WTCR in Malaysia by our special correspondent. 

WTCR Sepang 2019 Results – Race 3:

 

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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