Vallelunga - Race 1: Girolami winner of a race undermined by punctures

Lynk & Co left doubts about its participation in Race 1 after qualifying. Ultimately the decision was taken to recall all 5 cars to the pits after the formation lap of a race dominated by Nestor Girolami.

Published on 24/07/2022 à 12:11

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Vallelunga – Race 1: Girolami winner of a race undermined by punctures

The 5 Lynk & Co did not take part in Race 1 in Italy. ©Photo Damien Doumergue / DPPI

At Vallelunga, WTCR Race 1 did not go as planned by WTCR organizers. After qualifying on Saturday, Lynk & Co asked them to make decisions following a series of punctures which had affected the Chinese team. There was a risk of all 5 cars being withdrawn before the start and that is what happened this Sunday. After the formation lap, the Chinese team decided to recall its drivers to the boxes. “ We have informed all WTCR stakeholders that the overall weight and tire situation is an impossible equation. This is not the decision we wanted to make, but no adequate solution to this problem has been found since the start of the Vallelunga weekend until today », Specifies Lynk & Co in a press release.

There were only eleven left to line up on the starting grid with Nestor Girolami in pole position ahead of Mikel Azcona. But if Lynk & Co decided not to participate in the two races of the day, it is precisely to avoid the numerous punctures which appeared in Italy. Mehdi Bennani, Tiago Monteiro and Nathanael Berthon were forced to go through the pits to change their tires. The French driver may have regrets even though he was in third position before his incident. With a lot of debris on the track, the stewards decided to launch the safety car on the track. Nestor Girolami then had to be content to keep Mikel Azcona behind him when the green flag was waved for the final two laps. Gilles Magnus completes the podium in Race 1.

An episode that echoes the Nürburgring

Beyond the result, which becomes almost anecdotal, this is not the first time that the WTCR has encountered difficulties with GoodYear tires. Already at the Nürburgring, the organizers were forced to cancel the two races after serious risks of punctures. In Italy, the heat of the asphalt certainly contributed to aggravating the situation. But answers must now be provided by all those involved after a new episode which raises many questions. The second race of the day is scheduled for 17:00 p.m.