Drama for Honda with late engine change for Tarquini

Honda Racing Team JAS driver Gabriele Tarquini will start from the back of the grid for the second race at Macau, and will most likely miss the start of race one due a late call to change his engine by Honda.

The team have had to change the engine due to a problem discovered during the morning warm up, when a faulty spark plug damaged it. As the team have made the decision to change the engine after the final grid has been declared, the 51-year-old will start from the back of the grid for race two, with a gap left during race one, unless the team can complete the change before the pit lane closes before the start of race one.

This promotes Münnich Motorsport’s Rob Huff, who’s been fastest in two of the practice sessions this weekend, to an effective third for the start of the race. It also promotes Tarquini’s chief rival for second in the championship, RML’s Tom Chilton, who is likely to be able to close the 25 point gap in race one if he finishes in the top ten, and will then start fourth for race two with Tarquini dead last for the season finale.