Photo:

Pepe Oriola gets penalty in race one, reprimand for race two

By

Tuenti Racing Team’s Pepe Oriola has been given two punishments by the stewards for separate incidents in today’s two races in Macau. The Spaniard was given a 30 second penalty for the incident which took Tom Chilton out in race one, and a reprimand for contact with James Thompson’s Lada in race two.

The 30 second penalty drops Oriola from eighth to 15th in the first race, promoting Stefano D’Aste, Tom Boardman and Tom Coronel in the final points paying positions for the race.

Oriola accepted the incident with Chilton was his fault, and that he’s apologised for the contact.

“I (just) braked too late and I hit him in the back,” said Oriola to TouringCarTimes. “I was a little too optimistic in that corner and I’m sorry for him as I know he was fighting for third in the championship, so I hope one day he accepts my apology.”

Chilton was disappointed with the incident, which played a part in seeing him drop from third to fifth in the standings today.

“It’s very frustrating at Macau, as you always end up braking earlier than all your braking points as it all backs up,” said Chilton to TouringCarTimes. “You know the car can break later, and you want to break later, but if you do you end up T-boning someone, but he’s still very young though Pepe, I’m still fairly young but I’ve still got another ten years’ experience over him.”

On the second race incident, which took LADA Sport Lukoil’s James Thompson out of fourth position in the race, the young Spanish driver saw that as more of a racing incident.

“He opened the door and then in the last few meters he closed the door and it was him or the wall,” said Oriola. “I’m sorry for him as I didn’t want to touch him as I could probably have just passed him on the straight on the next lap, but I thought he was giving me the space but in the end he didn’t.”

Thompson was disappointed and puts the blame firmly on Oriola.

“Oriola’s move was just plain stupid,” he told TouringCarTimes. “You pull that manoeuvre and one car’s going in the wall. It’s selfish really, as you know there’s going to be an accident if you do it, and you’re lucky to get away with it yourself.”