GT / Tourism
Guerrieri criticizes Azcona's piloting: “Too bad and very unfair”
The end of the 2019 World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) season produced an anthology spectacle among the best drivers in the championship. In the rain of Sepang (Malaysia), the title contender Esteban Guerrieri (Honda) tried everything to steal the crown from leader Norbert Michelisz (Hyundai), in vain.
The Argentinian from Münnich Motorsport had nevertheless taken a slight option on the supreme prize during the first laps of Race 3 by taking the lead. Unfortunately, it was without taking into account the resistance of Mikel Azcona (Cupra).
The Spaniard, battling with Johan Kristoffersson (Volkswagen) to finish fifth overall and best rookie, was very aggressive, going so far as to touch the rear of the Honda and send Esteban Guerrieri off the track:
speechless… https://t.co/DPGC1phlsN
— Esteban Guerrieri (@E_Guerrieri) December 17, 2019
If visually the passage through the grass was brief, the damage was major on the Civic Type-R. Wet grass blocked the engine's air intake and led to a loss of power, and ultimately the end of Esteban Guerrieri's hopes.
He complained toCARhebdo of his opponent's behavior. “At the beginning it was a good fight. I was still looking for the right trajectories, because the grip level was different from Race 2.
He (Mikel Azcona) found a very wide turn 11 exit line, far from the rope. I saw it, I was going to adapt my driving to this place for the next lap but as he came out faster than me, he hit my rear and made me lose control.
It's unfortunate that I went into the grass because I had planned to correct my trajectory on the next lap. It's a shame and very unfair, until this moment it was a great fight with clean overtaking. »
The commissioners finally addressed a 30-second penalty to Mikel Azcona. The Navarrese lost his place on the podium (14th), but above all his status as best beginner of the year, falling behind Johan Kristoffersson in the general classification (6th).
Find in issue 2247 of AUTOhebdo, on sale Monday evening digitally and Wednesday on newsstands, the analysis of the WTCR in Malaysia by our special correspondent.
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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