C3 – Tarquini champion despite Muller’s comeback, Guerrieri winner

Three points ! This is what will have been missing Yvan muller (Hyundai) to clinch the World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) title on Sunday in Macau. The Frenchman nevertheless did everything possible to steal the crown from the leader Gabriele Tarquini (Hyundai), who won the inaugural WTCR season at the age of 56.

#WTCR Here is the 2018 champion: Gabriele Tarquini! #MacauGP @FIA_WTCR @HMSGOfficial pic.twitter.com/fyfqtyqjd7

— AUTOhebdo.fr (@autohebdo) November 18, 2018

The Alsatian, qualified sixth, needed a third position in Race 3 to be able to make up for his 18 point deficit at the end of the second race. Remounted fifth, then fourth following theJean-Karl Vernay's accident (Audi) then third in Lisboa, the four-time WTCC champion failed by a hair.

Gabriele Tarquini had his work cut out for him with a 14th place on the grid, the result of a crash in qualifying. The Italian got back into the points before Thed Björk (Hyundai, driver Yvan Muller Racing) played the team race by successfully overtaking.

Then author of a wise race, Gabriele Tarquini brought his i30 N to tenth place, enough to be titled. The race ended with the accident of Zsolt Szabo (Cupra).

The duel for victory was just as electrifying. On pole, Rob Huff (Volkswagen) took off slightly slower than Esteban Guerrieri (Honda), who quickly overtook him. The Englishman, author of already 9 victories in Tourism on the Guia circuit, put constant pressure on the Münnich Motorsport driver, without success.

In the French clan, Yann Erlacher (Honda) ends the year on a good note (6th). Nathanaël Berthon (Audi) finished in the points again (9th). Aurélien Panis (Audi), John Filippi (Cupra) retired.

In the general Team classification, Yvan Muller Racing won the reward for a handful of units against BRC Racing Team.

Discover the analysis of the WTCR final in Macau from our special correspondent in issue 2192 of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands.

WTCR Macau 2018 Race 3 standings: