Exactly six years ago, a little-known Argentinian rider signed for going to come out at the start of the 2010 season the team US F1. For his debut season in the «Formula 1» Lopez — or rather its sponsors — paid eight million dollars.
However, the team was a bubble in March 2010, the contract was terminated. Jose Maria had tried to negotiate with the team Hispania Racing F1, but time was lost — was replaced Karun. Even curious what would be able to achieve Lopez in F1...
But history does not tolerate the subjunctive mood — Jose Maria did not hit the «F1» and spent four years in a variety of body ring series he signed debuted in the WTCC factory team Citroen.
17 times finishing first in the twenty-three races Lopez completed his first full season in the series with a confident victory. In 2015, Jose Maria continued performance driving Citroen C-Elysee WTCC and at the end of the penultimate stage, which took place last weekend, the second time he became the world champion.
Season 2015 turned out to be less successful for him — so to speak — he won «just simply» nine races of twenty-two! But that was enough for him to come off in the results table from their rivals on the unattainable distance.
The penultimate stage of the World Cup held in Thailand — yes, famous for its resorts in the country has in its territory is not only beaches, but also racing.
Qualifying was dictated riders Citroen — they took the first five places. Championship leader Jose Maria Lopez won the sixth season in the pole position, and behind it are his comrades-in-arms Sebastien Loeb, Yvan Muller, representing the private Mehdi Bennani team and Ma Qing Hua. However, the cut-off the last turn Bennani was penalized on the starting grid and swapped with Ma.
Riders of the Russian team Lada on the basis of qualifications are located on the seventh (Nicky Katsburg), eleventh (Rob Huff) and thirteenth (Nicolas Lyaper) locations. However, the technical inspection after the qualifying rounds the judges, to measure the thickness of the rear windows, found a violation in the Lada Vesta Rob Huff — windows were on the 0.2 mm thinner than the allowed four millimeters. As a result, the Briton was stripped of his results in qualifying and both races was forced to start from last place.
The only rider who had mathematical chances to not allow Lopez to become the champion this season, was his team-mate Yvan Muller.
But fortune turned to the Alsatians back — on the first lap Muller hit the blockage of four machines, resulting in his Citroen appeared severely damaged. Ivan reached the boxes, but returned to the track at the end of a race.
As a result, Jose Maria Lopez, took the lead from the start and covered by three «slave» in the face of Sebastien Loeb, Ma Qing Hua and Mehdi Bennani, quietly he came to the finish of the first race and early won a second consecutive world title — the Argentinian was able to do it in the first race of the weekend.
Launched last place of Rob Huff was able to take advantage of numerous gatherings and slipped to sixth (!) Place. But his teammates Lada collided in the first corner and dropped out of the race.
After a perfect first race, in the second round Lopez, they say, «has committed follies.» In the debut, he and his colleagues Citroen Yvan Muller, copper Bennani and Ma Qing Hua staged showdown ended gathering Frenchman. As a result, the Argentine finished fourth, while China's third driver.
The struggle for leadership between the owner of the poles were Tiago Monteiro and Norbert Mihelits. Hungary, however, had to serve the penalty as driving through the pit lane — his team-launch procedures violated and he rolled back.
By the end of the race Monteiro started to catch Sebastien Loeb, but the Frenchman was not enough time to catch up with the Portuguese — the judge threw the red flag and the race was stopped prematurely.
The fact that the track twilight fell and the judges deemed the conditions unfit to continue the race.
Tiago Monteiro won, but... poslefinishnoy tehinspektsii judge revealed violations and deprived the Portuguese deserved first place. Thus the victory was awarded to Sebastien Loeb. Ma Qing Hua won the second place and Jose Maria Lopez — the third.
In the second race started, only one team Lada driver Rob Huff — his colleagues had an accident in the first race and could not go to the start of the second race. At the end of the second race Huff finished seventh.
The final stage of the world championship WTCC will be held in Qatar on November 27.
