WTCC-C1: Tom Chilton offers Sébastien Loeb Racing success at Monza

The opening race of the WTCC at Monza was very lively from start to finish. Even before the start of action, Aurélien Panis (Honda Civic – Zengo Motorsport) was the first loser with an oil leak forcing the Frenchman to enter the pits.

It was then pole sitter Tom Coronel (Chevrolet Cruze – ROAL Motorsport) who stalled when the lights went out, leaving Mehdi Bennani (Citroën C-Elysée – Sébastien Loeb Racing) take control of the event in front of his teammate Tom chilton and Norbert Michelisz's first official Honda Civic.

The Hungarian, followed by the Volvo S60 of Nestor Girolami, immediately took the advantage over the C-Elysée of Chilton, before Girolami suffered a broken suspension at the right rear, once again offering the lead. third place at Chilton.

The Briton will then take advantage of the contact between Bennani and Michelisz, fighting for first place at the Parabolica, to take first place, while the two previous leaders must return to the pits.

Chilton finally wins ahead of Rob Huff for a Citroën C-Elysée double. Tiago Monteiro (Honda Civic) takes the podium in front of the first Volvo S60 of Thed Björk, who will start from pole in the main race.

Esteban Guerrieri (Chevrolet Cruze – Campos Racing), one time second before giving way to Huff, Monteiro and Björk, completes the top 5 ahead of Yann Ehrlacher (Lada Vesta – RC Motorsport), but the Frenchman was penalized ten seconds for not -respect the limits of the track at the start.

Tom Coronel finished sixth ahead of Frenchman John Filippi (Citroën C-Elysée – SLR), Nicky Catsburg (Volvo S60), victim of a front splitter problem, Kevin Gleason (Lada Vesta – RC Motorsport), who took the points for his debut in the category, and Daniel Nagy (Honda Civic – Zengo Motorsport).

The Monza main race will start at 14:15 p.m.

Ranking Race 1 Monza