Néstor Girolami won his maiden WTCC race in very wet conditions at Ningbo International Speedpark in China while Thed Björk claimed the World Championship lead by a mere half point for Polestar Cyan Racing.
Pouring rain all day meant that the main race was started behind the Volvo V60 Polestar Safety Car and later stopped under red flags, with Néstor Girolami crossing the line in first position. The regulations state that half points should be awarded under these finishing conditions.
“It is really strange to claim my first WTCC win like this. But it is nonetheless a victory and the team has done an amazing job all weekend. We proved yesterday that we are fastest of all in the rain by claiming pole. I agree with the decision of the stewards to stop the race early despite that I wanted to race for it, they are responsible for our safety and I respect that,” said Néstor Girolami.
Thed Björk crossed the line in third position to take his seventh podium finish of the season and has claimed the championship lead by 0.5 points.
“This is no doubt one of the most eventful race weekends I have ever experienced. My goal was to claim the World Championship lead and I have done just that. We had some issues that we need to learn from moving forward, but the really positive thing that we bring with us to the next race in Japan is that we finally are on pace in the wet. I am happy with this weekend,” says Björk.
Nicky Catsburg claimed the team’s third podium finish of the weekend at Ningbo International Speedpark by crossing the line in third position in the opening race.
“This has been a weekend of ups and downs for me. We didn’t get things right for qualifying and we need to work on that. I am happy with the podium finish, the team has scored vital points for both championships and I look forward to the next race in Japan,” says Catsburg.
The victory and three podiums in the FIA WTCC Race of China have elevated Polestar Cyan Racing to the top of both championships, leading Honda by seven points in the manufacturers championship.
”We came to China trailing behind in both championships with the objective to lead both when we leave. Mission completed thanks to a super effort from everyone in the team under very tough conditions. We are heading to Japan with the objective to defend our lead,” says Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
The FIA WTCC Race of Japan takes place from 28-29 October.
WTCC Race of China
Circuit: Ningbo International Speedpark
Length: 4.0 km
Lap record (WTCC): 2:03.753 (Guerrieri)
Results
Race 1 – Top 5
1 Esteban Guerrieri Chevrolet Cruze 15 laps
2 Yann Ehrlacher Lada Vesta +2.893
3 Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 +11.671
4 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic +17.409
5 Gabriele Tarquini Honda Civic +17.840
…
13 Thed Björk Volvo S60 +5 laps
DNF Néstor Girolami Volvo S60
Race 2 – Top 5
1 Néstor Girolami Volvo S60 2 laps
2 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic +0.851
3 Thed Björk Volvo S60 +2.537
4 Gabriele Tarquini Honda Civic +3.347
5 Tom Chilton Citroën C-Elysée +4.562
…
7 Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 +8.113
Championship Standings
Drivers – Top 5
1 Thed Björk Volvo S60 200,5 pts
2 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic 200 (-0,5)
3 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic 198,5 (-2)
4 Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 177,5 (-22,5)
5 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée 164 (-36,5)
…
9 Néstor Girolami Volvo S60 88 (-112,5)
Manufacturers
1 Volvo 647,5 pts
2 Honda 640,5 (-7)
Néstor Girolami wins in China as Thed Björk claims WTCC lead by half a point https://t.co/B9hNxVi68c @volvocarsglobal #ArriveAlive pic.twitter.com/oMY8UpmfVb
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) October 16, 2017
