John Filippi reprimanded for shunt with Franz Engstler

Campos Racing’s John Filippi was the only driver to receive an infraction post-race, when the 19-year-old was given a reprimand after colliding with the eldest driver on the grid, Franz Engstler, on lap nine of race two.

The Corsican was taken to the medical centre after the crash, which left his TC2T-class SEAT León WTCC damaged and out of the race. Filippi had run into the side of Engstler’s BMW 320 TC at Turn 1 at the first restart, as he’d dried to pass the second-in-class BMW of Pasquale Di Sabatino.

“I didn’t have the speed to keep up with the BMW, and when I saw the safety car I thought this was my last chance to win a place and fight with them, but I didn’t want to crash into them,” said Filippi to TouringCarTimes.

“I braked at the same point on the right of the track, but the track was just a little bit too wet, it was just a mistake.”

Franz Engstler wasn’t upset about the incident after the race. Despite the damage, the 52-year-old was able to continue on and still win in the TC2T classification for the fourth consecutive race.

“At the end of the start finish line, Filippi hit me so hard on the side, and I lost about 30 seconds, but the next safety car helped me to close back the gap,” said Engstler. “My car was really damaged, my steering was all to the left, but he didn’t hit me on the wheel so I could continue and score the maximum points.”

The stewards investigated the incident, and gave Filippi a reprimand.

Yokohama Trophy (TC2T) standings