Argentineans on the top of WTCR standings after Hungaroring

Nestor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport) and Gabriele Tarquini (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse) are the winners of three races in the Hungarian round of the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup that took place this weekend at Hungaroring.

Girolami triumphed in the #29 Honda Civic Type R TCR in the first two races while defending WTCR champion Gabriele Tarquini brought his #1 Hyundai i30 N TCR to the victory in the third race.

Yvan Muller, Nestor Girolami and Esteban Guerrieri

In the first race on Saturday, the 29-year-old Argentinean converted pole position into his first WTCR victory, defeating veteran Yvan Muller in the #100 Lynk &ampCo 03 TCR. Another Argentinean and Girolami’s teammate Esteban Guerrieri finished the race in the third place, also taking the lead in the drivers’ standings.

On Sunday, Nestor Girolami made fantastic progress during the opening lap from sixth place on the reverse grid to P1, staying in front until the end of the race and taking his second victory. Jean-Karl Vernay, who started the race from P1 in the #69 Leopard Racing Audi RS3 LMS, finished the race in the second place. Daniel Haglöf completed a podium after a great run in the #37 PWR Racing’s CUPRA TCR. Another PWR Racing’s driver Mikel Azcona finished fourth ahead of Esteban Guerrieri, who stayed in the championship lead, tied in points with Girolami.

Race 2 podium at Hungaroring

In the third WTCR race of the weekend, Gabriele Tarquini claimed his second season’s victory. He shared a podium with teammate Norbert Michelisz. The Hungarian started the race from pole in front of his home crowd. Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing) climbed to the third podium spot.

The early leader of the race was Esteban Guerrieri but his Honda lost power on lap 5, dropping down to P3 behind two Hyundais. Guerrieri then crashed out on lap 11, causing safety car intervention. The race resumed on lap 15 but an accident of Kevin Ceccon’s Alfa Romeo initiated another interruption, so the race ended behind the safety car.

Gabriele Tarquini has won two times in six races in 2019

The double winner Nestor Girolami earned 10 points with the sixth-place finish in Race 3, taking the championship lead after six races with accumulated 100 points on his account. His compatriot Esteban Guerrieri is second, ten points behind. Thed Bjork (Cyan Racing) is third with 81 points, two more than Gabriele Tarquini. With two drivers on the top, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport leads the Team’s standings with 190 points, 58 points more than Cyan Racing Lynk &ampCo.

The next WTCR round is scheduled for May 11-12 at Slovakia Ring.

Nestor Girolami is the championship leader after six races

Opening round of the TCR Europe Series

Hungaroring also hosted the season-opening round of the TCR Europe Series, with a massive grid of 37 cars. Mato Homola (Target Competition, Hyundai i30 N TCR) took the victory in Race 1, ahead of teammate Josh Files and Nelson Panciatici in M Racing’s Hyundai.

The winner of Race 2 was Julien Briche in JSB Competition’s Peugeot 308 TCR ahead of Gilles Magnus (Comtoyou Racing, Audi RS3 LMS) and Daniel Nagy (M1RA Hyundai). Dušan Borković (Target Hyundai) finished fourth, ahead of Nelson Panciatici (M Racing, Hyundai), who took the lead in the standings together with Gilles Magnus. They have 57 points each, three more than Homola, Nagy and Borković.

The next TCR Europe event is scheduled for May 24-26 at Hockenheimring.