Photo: ETCC Media

Three-way fight for ETCC title in Italy

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The FIA European Touring Car Cup hosts the final race of the year this weekend at Franciacorta in Italy. Three drivers are up for the title fight: James Thompson, current leader, Thomas Engström, ten points behind, and Michel Nykjær, twelve points behind.

Thompson, driving for Hartmann Honda, has been in the championship lead since the first race.

But the Brit has just claimed one victory so far while Danish rival Nykjær won the two previous races at Salzburgring in the diesel-powered SEAT León.

“I am of course going for the victory. But Thompson is ahead with 12 points, so he needs more or less just stay behind me to take the title. But second in the championship seems a more realistic goal,” said Nykjær to racemag.dk.

Engström, who is second in the championship, runs his own Honda Accord after previously been in the same team as Thompson.

“The goal is to be ahead of Thompson. It is really important to be the best Honda-driver and beat the Danish team,” said Engström.

A total of ten S2000 cars have been entered for the ETCC finale, including the two Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW 320si of Aytaç Biter and Ibrahim Okyay, the two Rikli Motorsport Honda’s of Peter Rikli and Jörg Schori and the two older BMW 320i of Promotor Sport with drivers Massimo Zanin and Mariano Bellin.

A further seven cars are entered for the race in the Super Production and S1600 categories. Carsten Seifert and Jens Löhnig are fighting for the S1600 title while Vojislav Lekić and Fabio Fabiani are in it for the Super Production title.