WTCC Monza – Monza circuit
The Repsol drivers have a great Sunday in Italy, as they move closer to the driver`s and manufacturer`s title in the WTCC.
A victory each for Yvan Muller and Gabriele Tarquini, with a one-two for Tarquini in the first race, and for Jordi Gené in the second, which takes SEAT nearer to its objectives in the World Tour Car Championship. The races held today at Monza ended in the best possible way: with victories for the first two in the Driver`s championship and with SEAT increasing its lead at the top of the Manufacturer`s championship.
First race
At the start the drivers in the SEAT team drove in formation, although without being able to get away from their rivals, especially Larini, Farfus and Priaulx. This battle lasted the whole race but on the penultimate lap both Farfus and Larini had problems that took them away from the final fight for victory. Rydell was always third while Muller and Tarquini changed positions so they both got to be in the lead.
Jordi Gené was pushed off the track on the first curve, although he was able to get back in the race and together with Tiago Monteiro the two had spectacular fight backs. In the end the Portuguese driver was 5th overtaking the two Chevrolets driven by Larini and Huff, with Gené just behind them, and it was he who picked up the last point available.
Second race
A penalty for Rickard Rydell allowed Zanardi to start from the pole, although on the second lap he was overtaken first by Gené, and then later by Tarquini. A little further back Yvan Muller snatched 4th position. A few laps latrer the two SEAT León TDIs were attacked by Larini`s Chevrolet, while Muller had to battle with Menu.
Halfway through the race Tarquini overtook Gené, and the two teammates drove together until the chequred flag, avoiding the constant attacks made by Larini. Further back Robert Huff and Andy Priaulx, the two main rivals in the driver`s championship, went off the track on successive laps and finished without any points.
On the last few laps the Chevrolet drivers attacked the Repsol drivers but Tarquini and Gené got the second one-two of the day for the SEAT team, and Muller finished in 4th position, winning some valuable points for his title bid. Tiago Monteiro rounded off a great day for SEAT when he finished 6th while Rydell fell back to 9th position.
Rickard Rydell
“This has not been a good weekend for me, although it was very beneficial for the team. After an excellent classification and a very good first race I still don’t understand why I was penalised. That affected me a lot and in the second race I had no chance to do anything good”.
Jordi Gené
“My weekend has been very positive. I was very fast in the free practice and I did a good job in the classification. In the first race I sacrificed my performance a little to get a good result for the team. In the second I let myself go and got a great result. And we got a good haul of points for the SEAT team in the World Championship. Everything has been perfect”.
Gabriele Tarquini
“It has been fantastic to get so many points and two one-twos for the SEAT team. It has been a dream because we knew that that of Monza could be a favourable race, but not as good as this. The weekend has simply been perfect”.
Yvan Muller
“The most important and really decisive thing, is the work that we have done for the team. And I am very happy because I am still at the top of the standings, with my victory and fourth position”.
Tiago Monteiro
“This was frustrating because in the classification I was with my teammates but a Japanese driver forced me off the track. I could have done better because I think that it would have been possible to get a higher placed finish and more points in the two races. Especially in the second. In spite of all this things are now perfect for us”.
