Seven men aim for the title: review of the troops

We could call them the seven mercenaries. The World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) concludes on the streets of Macau from November 15-18 with three races that will determine the identity of the 2018 champion.

In the lead with 291 points, Gabriele tarquini (Hyundai) can sleep soundly. It has a rather comfortable mattress ahead of its closest rival Yvan muller (Hyundai, 37 points). However, the 56-year-old Italian is not really comfortable on the Guia circuit, as proven his poor results in qualifying: 8th for Race 1, then 14th for Races 2 and 3 after a crash.

“I haven't driven here since 2014, but I remember the turns and the hospital well (in 2009, a crash with Yvan Muller during testing took him to the medical center for a check-up. Editor's note). Leading the championship is the best position to approach a final. But Macau is a lottery and anything can happen. You can have problems, a crash, you will have to survive the first corner of the three races,” indicates the 2009 WTCC champion.

Yvan Muller, who won his first world crown exactly 10 years ago (already in Macau, already against Gabriele Tarquini), remains motivated by the title. « Maybe we lost the championship (in Japan with a retirement when Gabriele Tarquini scored the points for victory. Editor's note) but everything is playable. As long as it is not mathematically done, we do not relax. Macau is Macau…”

Behind, five other men are still in the running, even if the gap is rather significant. In fact, there are still 82 points to be awarded throughout the meeting (the 3 races + the second qualification). Third, Thed Bjork (Hyundai) is 53 points behind the leader “I come back here without the pressure of last year, where I had a big weekend in Macau, which helped me win the WTCC, explains the Swede. It's a great place and it's very pleasant to ride there. » That's what he said on Thursday, a day before committing a driving error in Qualifying 1 and starting 16th on Saturday morning...

Followed by the first non-Hyundai car, the Cupra Pepe Oriola. The Spaniard has been driving this car for three years and knows his machine by heart, which could allow him to make up for his 64 points deficit. His goal will be to capitalize during Race 2, which takes place following a reverse grid system (Pepe Oriola having won Race 2 in Slovakia and Japan).

Outgoing champion of the TCR International Series, Jean Karl Vernay (Audi, 5th at 73 points) is the best representative of the brand at the Rings. The Frenchman, who thought he had lost any chance of a title mid-season, remains a challenger not to be underestimated. “I'm super motivated because I don't have any FIA titles, specifies the WRT driver, who will start 5th, 6th and 4th in the three rounds.

I finished second in the GP Formula 3 in 2009, you will have to be at the top of your level to have a good opportunity”, he adds. Rejected at 74 points, Stephen Guerrieri (Honda) recognizes that "the gap is rather large and destiny is no longer between (his) hands”. Norbert Michelisz (Hyundai) will also have to count on a miracle to move from seventh to first place. The Hungarian has an outlay of 76 units.

The seven candidates for the title in Macau:
1. Gabriele Tarquini 291 points
2. Yvan muller 252 pts (+39 pts)
3. Thed Björk 238 pts (+53 pts)
4. Pepe Oriola 227 pts (+64 pts)
5. Jean Karl Vernay 216 pts (+73 pts)
6. Esteban Guerrieri 213 pts (74 pts)
7. Norbert Michelisz 212 pts (+76 pts)