Duncan Huisman ranks the title contenders
Macau expert Duncan Huisman has ranked the title contenders exclusively for TouringCarTimes.com ahead of the upcoming FIA World Touring Car Championship finale at Macau. The Dutchman is the only driver that has won the Macau race three times in a row and know what it takes to master the streets of Macau.
Three drivers are up for the title fight: SEAT drivers Gabriele Tarquini with 115 points, reigning champion Yvan Muller with 113 points and BMW man Augusto Farfus with 102 points.
Huisman ranks Farfus highly but thinks that he is too far behind in the points compared to the two SEAT men.
“Augusto (Farfus) is absolutely the fastest of the three. He has got an outstanding pace if he manages to keep it in one piece,” said Huisman.
“But with Augusto it is always all or nothing and this is most likely the reason why he is not going to win it this year. He has lost too many points during the season. Augusto’s only chance is if Gabriele (Tarquini) and Yvan (Muller) are going to fight for it,” said Husiman.
Huisman thinks that it is going to be extremely even and hard between the two SEAT drivers at Macau.
“Gabriele is the oldest of the contenders and a very clever guy. If there is one driver that has never been penalized for an avoidable accident, then it is definitely Gabriele,” said Huisman.
“But Yvan is very talented and has got great car control. Though Macau has not always been kind to Yvan and if he is going to win it he needs luck on his side,” said Muller.
The fight for the independents trophy is going to be settled at Macau as well. Tom Coronel currently leads with 212 points and he is being chased by Félix Porteiro on 182 points.
Despite the point gap in Coronel’s favor, Huisman think his fellow Dutchman is going to have a hard time at Macau.
“Coronel is damn fast, especially at Macau. But he has not got the fastest car in the field and at Macau you need a car with power. The fact that he has not got a diesel powered SEAT means that he has not got enough straight line speed,” said Huisman.
But Huisman thinks that Coronel’s rival Porteiro is going to have other problems than Coronel to worry about at Macau.
Porteiro switched teams (from BMW Italy/Spain to Proteam Motorsport) with Sergio Hernández ahead of this season and the two have tangled more than once this season.
“I think Félix (Porteiro) has got a good chance, if he just stays out of trouble with Sergio (Hernández),” said Huisman.
“Félix has surprised me since he switched teams. He has performed better than when he was driving for the factory team, but he is probably more motivated now,” said Huisman.
The finale at Macau is only one week away and Huisman is looking forward to the race.
“I think we are going to see two great races and two exciting title fights at Macau!” said Huisman.
