Mikel Azcona wins a very turbulent Race 2 in Pau

The 100% Hungarian first line had some pace, but the poorly controlled enthusiasm of Norbert Michelisz spoiled the party. The main victim is Attila Tassi who had a much better start than his compatriot. The pileup could have turned into a “big one”, but the mastery of the WTCR drivers avoided the worst. Yann Ehrlacher was very opportunistic since from 6th on the grid, he was 3rd at the end of this chaotic start. The two other drivers who benefited from this incident are Mikel Azcona leader and Santiago Urrutia 2nd. If the two men were going to finish the race in this order, the Alsatian had to return to the pits with a puncture. The inside tread of his right front tire was completely destroyed. The two-time World Cup winner finished the race 14th and pocketed two small points. He leaves Pau with very little loot, but he knows that the season will be long and competitive. It is his teammate Ma Qing Hua who inherits the place on the podium. The Chinese had an excellent first meeting for his return to world level. 5th in the first race, he reached the podium in the second round, a good omen for the season. Nathanaël Berthon had experienced the same mishap as Ehrlacher in race 1. The Frenchman reacted perfectly by finishing 4th and best Audi driver. 

https://twitter.com/FIA_WTCR/status/1523324395116244992

In the general classification, Nestor Girolami, 7th in this second race, takes control of the World Cup with 49 units. He is ahead of Esteban Guerrieri (5th in race 2) and Mikel Azcona. Yvan Muller is 6th ahead of Berthon and Ehrlacher. The next round of the WTCR is another monument since it will be a question of the “Green Hell” on the formidable North loop of the Nürburgring at the curtain-raiser of the 24-hour race, on May 27. 

race classification 2. © WTCR

championship standings at the end of the French round ©WTCR