With the final race here, SEAT Sport was looking at both a drivers title and a very close manufacturer title. 3pts seperate SEAT from BMW in the manufacturers chase and Tarquini has 2pt lead over teamate Muller with Augusto Farfus 11pts down to Muller.
With that said, the accidents of both the top points leaders put the whole race into a different light. Muller qualified 7th with Targquini in 8th. SEAT did change Tarquini’s engine but due to rules he will stay in 8th position. Both were checked in at the hospital and released.
Macau is an insanely tight circuit. Walls and cars do not mix well. Starting 6 cars back, it will be a huge challenge to move up and stay safe.
Yvan Muller running a very tight line Photo: WTCC
The practice session of the WTCC’s last round that will be raced next Sunday in Macau has been extremely difficult for the SEAT Sport team. The practices in Macau are traditionally held on Friday and after an excellent first session, in which the five SEAT managed to qualify for Q2, the definitive qualifying session with the ten fastest cars, Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini, the two title contenders, where hampered by an accident. They both had to be taken to hospital with minor injuries. Jordi Gené and Tiago Monteiro qualified fourth and fifth fastest as the best positioned SEAT for the first race on Sunday.
Thompson’s LADA obtained terminal damage Photo: WTCC
The accident sustained by Yvan and Gabriele happened as a consequence of the engine breakdown of James Thompson’s Lada during Q1. In order to clean the oil that had been left on the track, the organisation used a lot of absorbing dust that remained on the track without any warning sign. After the start of Q2 the first participants raised a big cloud of dust that left Yvan Muller completely in the dark and made him crash against the protection barriers. Gabriele Tarquini was right behind him and could not avoid crashing against his team mate. Both drivers were taken to hospital, but the checks have not shown any fracture or serious injury, just some blows due to the accident.
The wreckage of D’Aste’s car Photo: WTCC
With Rydell out due to a minor breakdown, SEAT’s hopes were all pinned on Gené and Monteiro, who went onto the track to eventually set the fourth and fifth fastest time at the end of the session which was marked by a lack of light due to the delays. SEAT’s options got complicated, but the aspirations are intact since the cars will be repaired without problems on Saturday. The goal of the team is to clinch one of the two titles that will be at stake on Sunday from five o’clock in the morning (CET).
Classification:
1. R.Huff (Chevrolet), 2’32”141; 2. A.Priaulx (BMW), 2’32”483. 3. A.Farfus (BMW), 2’33”033. 4. . J. Gené (SEAT León TDI), 2’33”136; 5º T.Monteiro (SEAT León TDI), 2’33”323; 7. Y.Muller (SEAT León TDI), S.T.; 8. G.Tarquini, (SEAT León TDI), S.T. 10. R.Rydell, (SEAT León TDI
TV Schedule: Both races will be broadcasted live by Eurosport at 5.00 and 6.00h (CET)
- SEAT Sport
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