Vernay wins in style in Race 2 in Marrakech

Despite the narrowness of the urban circuit of Marrakech (Morocco), the WTCR (World Touring Car Cup) peloton offered some great fights during Race 2 of the first round of the calendar, largely thanks to the system of inverted grid.

Author of the eighth time in Q2, Jean Karl Vernay (Audi) started from second place on Sunday afternoon, and won with authority against the pole sitter Pepe Oriola (Cupra) at the start. The Frenchman then drove in the style of Gabriele Tarquini the day before, watching the opponents in the mirrors. On the second step of the podium does not appear Pepe Oriola (finally third), but the star of the public, Mehdi Bennani (Volkswagen). The Moroccan, who started fourth, took the correct trajectory at the first corner.

Behind, there was no shortage of struggles. Between two interventions by the Safety Car (the first time to remove David Szabo's Cupra, the second to free Benjamin Lessennes' Honda, both hit by others), Thed Bjork (Hyundai) a fait le show. Le Suédois, qualifié 9e, termine cinquième après quelques contacts contre Rob Huff (Volkswagen). Ce dernier a dû abandonner après avoir poussé son rival nordique, pneu avant droit crevé.

Among the French aligned, Yann Erlacher (Honda) finished fourth. His uncle Yvan Muller (Hyundai, 9th) tried to overtake Esteban Guerrieri (Honda, 8th) without success. John Filippi (Cupra, 12th), Aurélien Panis (Audi, 15th) and Nathanaël Berthon (Audi, 16th) did not score any points.

Victorious in Race 1, Gabriele tarquini is ranked 19th after having abnormally slowed down at the end of the effort. Aurélien Comte (Peugeot ), Frédéric Vervisch (Audi) and Gianni Morbidelli (Alfa Romeo) have given up.

The third and final race of the day will take place from 19:10 p.m. French time.

Ranking Race 2 WTCR in Marrakech: