Gabriele Tarquini scores key points in the Marrakech rain

Gabriele Tarquini scored points in both races at Marrakech, Morocco, with the Lada driver finishing the opening race in seventh, and flew in the wet to take fifth just behind Citroën’s Yvan Muller, again showing stunning pace in the wet for the second consecutive race meeting.

“The car was good in both races, especially in the wet,” said the Italian to TouringCarTimes. “In the opening race the car was quite alright, although we were surely not the fastest car on track. We had brake issues, and the performances were hampered by that.”

The second race was much better for Tarquini, confirming the car has good pace in the wet: “In the main race we were really quick, except for the first four laps when I messed up with engine settings. When I found the right set-up I started pushing and I was one of the fastest on track, like in Budapest. The car is very good in the wet, but we were penalised by the low starting position. When I overtook Hugo (Valente) I closed the gap to the car ahead, which was a certain Yvan Muller in the Citroën, so that testifies how good the car was. I must start further up the grid, because I could have probably stayed with the top four.”

As for the Race of Germany, Tarquini is not too confident, and looking further ahead to Moscow and Vila Real: “I don’t have too much experience, I don’t feel very secure at the Nordschleife. Nicky (Catsburg) can probably have a good result there because he knows the track very well. After that we have Moscow, and probably Vila Real will also be good for us, this was the worst track for us.”