Honda impressed with Argentinian star Néstor Girolami on his debut

Despite qualifying a relatively quiet 18th for his WTCC debut, Honda Europe Motorsport Manager William de Braekeleer was impressed with reigning Super TC 2000 driver Néstor Girolami on his World Touring Car Championship debut, as the 26-year-old has had an error free run so far this weekend at a track which has not suited the heavily ballasted Honda Civic WTCC.

“I’m impressed by the speed to which he adapted to the car,” said de Brakeleer to TouringCarTimes. “This is the first time he’s driven the Civic, and on this track and he’s only one-thousandth off of Tiago (Monteiro’s) time. The Civics were not great on the track today with this weight and in these circumstances, but if you look purely at Girolami’s performance, he can certainly be happy in the circumstances.

Girolami was not downbeat after his qualifying performance, and is targeting a race finish and hopefully points on Sunday, even though he will start 18th for both races.

“Today we did very well, we were tenth in the first test, and in the second practice I was 1th, but in qualifying it was not so good. I made a mistake in Turn 3, but tomorrow we are working to be better.

“This is the best opportunity for my debut, but this isn’t the best race for the Honda due to the weight,” he added.

“I hope to complete the race as my first objective tomorrow. I need to learn the start, in WTCC this is new for me, and I hope to be in the top ten or 12 as my final position.”