Tarquini not happy with Villa at Hungary

Gabriele Tarquini blames Javier Villa from preventing him from getting two podium finishes at the Hungaroring after contact between the two in race one.

Tarquini was running in third place after a terrific start in the SEAT León TDI, and held off Javier Villa who had gone wide at the first corner.

The two Chevrolets of Yvan Muller and Rob Huff laid in wait as the two battled throughout the race, but on the final lap Villa moved up past Tarquini, only to be repassed by the SEAT and then he went wide and rejoined, with Tarquini subsequently forced off track and dropping behind the Chevrolets.

“I was fourth and with Tarquini and all the race behind him. He was really slow and it’s not easy overtaking him, and on the last lap we had the opportunity and take a podium, a fantastic first podium and a lot of points.”

Tarquini however didn’t believe the pass was within the rules.

“I totally disagree about the race director’s decision in the first race, because to me it was not a race incident. Villa on fighting lost the track completely with four wheels and rejoined the track and pushed me off and cost me three positions. This must not be a race incident, but anyway it’s racing and it’s happened.”

Tarquini has now moved up to fourth place in the standings on 75 points, 29 points down on Alain Menu in third in the championship.

Villa’s results combined with Poulsen’s retirement in race two elevate the 23-year-old to joint first place in the Yokohama Independents’ Trophy on 50 points each.