WTCC – Lopez wins his second title in Buriram

José-Maria Lopez won the title three races from the end of the season, after his new success of the year at the end of Race 1 of the WTCC in Buriram (Thailand). The pole-sitter retained the advantage over his teammate Sébastien Loeb, While Ma Qinghua completes the podium after resisting the assaults of Mehdi Bennani which completes Citroën's quadruplet.

Gabriele tarquini (Honda) completes the top five ahead Rob huff (Lada), Tiago monteiro (Sling), Stefano d'Aste (Chevrolet), Grégoire Demoustier (Chevrolet) and Tin Sritrai (Chevrolet), the last classified.

The race was marked by several collisions leaving behind John Filippi (Chevrolet), Yvan muller (Citroen), Norbert Michelisz (Sling), Hugo Valente (Chevrolet), Nicky catsburg (Lada), Nicolas lapierre (Lada) and Tom Coronel (Chevrolet). Commissioners investigate accidents.

Race 2

Tiago monteiro won Race 2 ahead Sébastien Loeb et Ma Qinghua (Citroen). The Portuguese was caught by the nine-time world champion WRC but the race was stopped two laps from the finish due to darkness.

The race was animated by the fight between José-Maria Lopez (Citroen), Gabriele tarquini (Sling), Rob huff (Lada) and Mehdi Bennani (Citroen). The double world champion, who had a virile fight with his Chinese teammate, finally won fourth place ahead of the Italian, the British and the Moroccan. Stefano d'Aste (Chevrolet) and Tin Sritrai (Chevrolet) completed the top ten.

Norbert Michelisz (Honda) was at the front after taking pole on the reverse grid, but the Hungarian had to do a drive-through for an infraction during repairs. The Zengo Motorsport resident only has a seven-point lead over Mehdi Bennani in the Yokohama Independents Trophy. Yvan muller retired again after contact at the start of the race and now only has a two-unit lead over Sébastien Loeb.

At the end of the checks, Tiago Monteiro was excluded from the race and it was finally Sébastien Loeb who won the victory on the green carpet.

Discover the report of the WTCC in Buriram produced by our special correspondent in issue 2036 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from Wednesday on newsstands.