Norbert Michelisz wins indie title, despite double DNF

Norbert Michelisz won the 2012 WTCC Yokohama Independents’ Trophy, despite only picking up one point for the fastest lap in race two through the whole weekend at Macau.

Michelisz was caught up in the multi-car tangle at Lisboa in race one, which saw the Hungarian forced to pit for repairs, but fortunately his two rivals in the Trophy, Pepe Oriola and Stefano D’Aste, were also forced to retire.

In race two, Michelisz took the lead from third on the grid at the standing start, but fell behind Alain Menu’s Chevrolet later in the race. After the long safety car period, Michelisz started second on the road behind Menu but ahead of Pepe Oriola’s SUNRED SEAT, but Oriola, who needed to finish ahead of Michelisz and by five positions in the independents’ classification, hit Michelisz’s BMW 320 TC on the way into Lisboa, which took Michelisz out of the race but Oriola as well, damaging the kerbs and forcing the race to finish behind the safety car.

The stewards found Oriola at fault and served him with a 1,000 EUR fine.

Michelisz wins the independents’ trophy, with Oriola in second and Stefano D’Aste in third, the same order they started the weekend.

“If somebody told me before the weekend that with zero points I’d stayed in front, for sure I wouldn’t have believed them,” said Michelisz to TouringCarTimes. “Last time we were just so unlucky, but in the end if you are champion, it doesn’t really matter.”

“I’m really sorry at the second race here in Macau, as I think I had the pace to finish on the podium easily. From my point of view it’s a shame, because we could have ended the season on a high as I was P2 and (Oriola) was P3 and Huff was P4, and that was good enough for Rob to win the Championship. It’s nice to win the Championship, but it’s not nice to score zero points.”

The last two winners of the independents’ championship, Sergio Hérnandez and Kristian Poulsen, didn’t return to defend their titles. Norbert Michelisz hopes to be back however to defend his independents’ title next season.

“The plan is to drive next year for sure, but the decision with us will come in January or February. For now, I have a good chance to continue for next year, but with the financial situation in Hungary you can never say for sure 100%, but the plan is to keep the (BMW) package and continue.”

FIA WTCC Yokohama Independents’ Trophy Final Standings