Photo: WTCC Media

Tom Coronel disappointed after brake issues steal Race 1 win in Morocco

ROAL Motorsport’s Tom Coronel was disappointed to miss out on a chance for a repeat victory in Marrakech, when a brake problem saw him fall out of the lead in Race 1, and struggle across the finish line in eighth.

In searing heat in the African country, Coronel’s Chevrolet began to experience brake problems after just a handful of laps. The Dutchman eventually slid wide on lap 12, handing the rival Chevrolet of Esteban Guerrieri the lead, who’d go on to take his first victory in the WTCC.

“It was something we should have known as we had it here two years ago,” said Coronel to TouringCarTimes. “I already had problems in free practice. We never did more than three laps, and after three laps I said ‘boys we have brake problems and we should bleed it’. In Race 2 we changed the brake fluid and it was perfect.

“This win should have been quite easy, I had a brilliant start, everything was under control, I was so relaxed, but then my brakes went.”

Coronel rescued a pair of points finishes in Marrakech, finishing eighth again in the second race, fighting off Rob Huff’s Citroën C-Elysée for 12 laps.