In the qualifying rounds excelled Honda racer Tiago Monteiro. On his home track the Portuguese really felt at home — it is a tenth ahead of Yvan Muller, representing Citroen and 1.8 seconds of his teammate Norbert Mihelitsa. The remaining contenders lost pole position holder of more than two seconds.
Riders of Lada, was due to its success «reward» extra ballast, were unable to compete for getting into the group of leaders. The best of them was Nicky Katsburg, but he was able to show only the ninth time. However, according to the rules of the reciprocal lattice, this result allowed him to start second in the first race of the weekend.
But his fellow Russian team were much less fortunate. South Valent finished with 13 qualifying races the result, and Gabriele Tarquini and does only 17th.
But the setback is not only representatives of the Lada. The leader of the WTCC in recent years — and this season — Jose Maria Lopez took place in the final qualifying segment, but could not finish zachetny circle.
Because of this, he took fifth place in the qualifying session — and in the first and in the second race he had to start from the middle of the top ten, and therefore rely on the Argentine victory was almost unreal.
Immediately after the qualifying race held manufacturers. It excelled riders Citroen — they were able to leave behind the Honda representatives. Lada Pilots took the third and last place.
In the first race of the weekend from pole position he started showed the tenth time in qualifying «private owner», Tom Coronel. The Dutchman had a great start and kept the lead position. As it turned out later — to the finish!
Takes the second place at the start Nicky Katsburg missed ahead of Tom Chilton. This allowed overtaking Coronel and Chilton calmly go to the end of arrival — Katsburg restrained all the other participants, and will not let anyone get ahead of ourselves.
During check-in the lead Chilton overtook Coronel, but did not dare to carry out a serious attack in the fight for first place. As a result, the Dutch realized his pole position and won.
Tom Chilton finished second just six tenths behind the winner. He closed the top three winners Niki Katsburg — podium racer Lada lost the holder of first place just over two and a half seconds.
In the fourth and fifth places the first race of the seventh stage of the finished copper and Bennani, Jose Maria Lopez — both drivers perform on sedans Citroën C-Elysée WTCC, but if the second is a factory team, the first in favor of «private» team Sebastien Loeb Racing.
Unlike the other two riders Katsburga Lada remained outside the top ten. Gabriele Tarquini finished in position 12, and South Valent finished the race ahead of schedule — six laps to go, he pulled into the pits.
The second race, and all turned into a «race on the tracks» — the track in Vila Real is narrow and overtaking is quite difficult. It is not surprising that the departed into the race from the start a group of five owners of cars the first five places in qualifying Tiago Monteiro, Yvan Muller, Norbert Mihelits, Robert Huff and Jose Maria Lopez and got to the end of the arrival without any overtaking. How it was interesting to fans? Hard question…
Sixth finished the second race of the Volvo Ted Björk. And after it finished the best of riders Nicky Katsburg Lada — he lost nearly 18 seconds to the winner. Ninth place went to South Valens — two Russian racers «broke» command Copper Bennani.
Gabriele Tarquini again finished outside the top-10 — speaker at the Lada Vesta WTCC Italian veteran finished only 13th result.
Yes, the Portuguese stage of the Russian team riders are unlikely to write yourself into an asset — even taking into account the catwalk Nicky Katsburga in the first race.
Loser has become the second race... the winner of the first race Tom Coronel! The Dutchman made a false start and was forced to call in to the pits for a penalty fare in the pit lane. This led to the fact that he lost the leader of one round and eventually finished last...
The next stage of the World Championship WTCC will take place from 5 to 7 August in Argentina on the track Termas de Rio Hondo — a home circuit for the rider factory team Citroen Jose Maria Lopez. If at home lucky Portuguese Tiago Monteiro, it may be within its walls rise up and Lopez?
