WTCC Portugal – Estoril circuit
Rickard Rydell and Tiago Monteiro got one victory each in the sixth date of the WTCC at the Portuguese circuit of Estoril this weekend. The SEAT Repsol drivers won the two races and at the same time had Yvan Muller third and second in the two races. With this result SEAT Repsol keeps its three drivers in the first three positions in the Drivers` Championship, and increases its lead in the Constructors´ Championship.
In both the first and second races the SEAT Repsol drivers had to fight hard for the triumph, as their rivals were on their tails throughout the races. Rydell beat Larini (Chevrolet) by less than one second in the first, whilst Monteiro had to keep Porteiro (BMW) at bay in the second after he was in his wake almost to the very end, but he was overtaken by Muller and Priaulx (BMW) who were separated by less than three tenths of a second, with the SEAT León TDI driver ahead of the BMW man. This means that the Spanish company got a double – the third of the season – after wins in Brazil and Mexico.
Jordi Gené also managed to win points after a great first race and a tough battle with Robert Huff (Chevrolet) and Andy Priaulx (BMW), giving him some valuable points in the championship. Gabriele Tarquini was not able to finish among the points in either of the races.
Tiago Monteiro, 7th and 1st
“A fantastic weekend and a very special one for me. After my victory in Mexico I have had a string of bad results. I want to thank the team for their help and their work, as it is this that has allowed us to get a magnificent overall result, thanks to Rickard`s victory, and my own, and the two podium finishes that Yvan got. I am very happy”.
Rickard Rydell, 1st and 8th
“A very good weekend for the team and for me. I am satisfied with my performance, both in the classification as well as in the first race, with my first victory of the season. Not so pleased with the second though, but overall I think we can feel pleased”.
Yvan Muller, 3rd and 4th
“This has been a great weekend for me. After the practice I could not have hoped for such a good race day, getting on the podium twice and getting some important points for the team in the Constructors` Championship”.
Jordi Gené, 5th and 9th
“Pleased for SEAT Repsol, because this is a circuit that presented us with some problems. In the first race everything went perfectly, but in the second I was not comfortable with the car. This was a pity because we could have won some more points”.
Gabriele Tarquini, 13th and 11th
“Obviously this has been a negative weekend. I am leaving with a double zero. I hope that I do not come across such a complicated race again”.
