Gabriele Tarquini concludes the Hungarian weekend with a success

On a track where very light rain was present, the reigning champion Gabriele Tarquini (Hyundai i30 – BRC) concluded the Hungaroring weekend with a victory ahead of the sister car of local hero Norbert Michelisz and Frenchman Yann Ehrlacher (Lynk & Co 03 – Cyan Performance).

Esteban Guerrieri (Honda Civic – Münnich Motorsport) however had the best start against pole sitter Norbert Michelisz, who slipped slightly when the lights went out. At the end of the first lap, Guerrieri was ahead of Gabriele Tarquini (Hyundai i30 – BRC), Michelisz, Yann Ehrlacher (Lynk & Co 03 – Cyan Performance) and Mikel Azcona (Cupra Leon – PWR Racing).

The other French people are then grouped further back in the peloton with Yvan Muller (Lynk & Co 03 – Cyan Racing) 12th ahead of Jean-Karl Vernay (Audi RS 3 LMS – Audi Sport Team Leopard) and Aurélien Panis (Cupra Leon – Comtoyou Racing) .

But Muller was quickly penalized with a drive-through for contact with Andy Priaulx (Lynk & Co 03 – Cyan Performance). We then had to wait until the end of the 5th lap to see the hierarchy evolve on the track, since Guerrieri, victim of a sudden loss of power, dropped two places in quick succession against Tarquini and Michelisz.

Worse for the Argentinian a few laps later, since the Münnich Motorsport driver pulls straight into the final corner at the end of lap 11 following a brake problem, causing the safety car to come into action. Yann Ehrlacher took the opportunity to get on the last step of the provisional podium.

With two laps added to the event, Tarquini relaunches the peloton in front of Michelisz and Ehrlacher, taking a good margin over his immediate pursuer. The race only resumes for a short time, however, Kevin Ceccon (Alfa Romeo – Team Mulsanne) finishing off the track and causing a new safety car.

Tarquini won after a neutralized round ahead of Michelisz and Ehrlacher. Mikel Azcona and Thed Björk (Lynk & Co 03 – Cyan Racing) entered the top 5. Jean-Karl Vernay and Aurélien Panis finished 10th and 11th. Yvan Muller did not see the finish, preferring to stop his Lynk & Co 03 in the pit lane at the end of the 9th lap.

Discover the full report of the Hungaroring WTCR weekend in AUTO issue 2214hebdo, available tomorrow evening in digital version and this Wednesday on newsstands.