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Coronel heads the privateers

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GR Asia driver Tom Coronel has built a solid lead in the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy. Since the third meeting of the season at Brands Hatch, when he switched to the new SEAT León, the Dutchman has claimed three victories out of four races.

His double win in Oschersleben resulted in him stretching the leading margin to 24 points over his closest competitors.

Behind Coronel, three drivers are covered by only two points: Proteam Motorsport’s Stefano D’Aste currently second on 36, chased by JAS Motorsport’s Ryan Sharp on 35 and by his own team-mate Luca Rangoni on 34.

Jens Edman and the Peugeot Sport Denmark team left Oschersleben with a couple of fourth positions in the Independents Trophy; positive results for their second appearance of the season. The Danish team took part in the first race meeting at Monza, where Edman and his Peugeot 407 were eliminated during the first race following a collision with Roberto Colciago’s SEAT Toledo.

In both races at Oschersleben, Edman was able to fight for podium positions in the Independents’ Trophy. “I believe we might have finished with better results without the 10-grid position penalty we were given after qualifying,” team manager Jørgen Agergaard commented.

Edman was penalised because the team changed the engine after Monza to compete in two rounds of the Danish Touring Car Championship.

“We committed a mistake not applying for the change between the two races at Monza. By doing so we had paid the penalty in the second race,” explained Agergaard.