Pepe Oriola disappointed after race one contact with Gianni Morbidelli

Craft-Bamboo Lukoil’s Pepe Oriola remainded in touch for the championship after a sixth and a second place finish at the Salzburgring, but believes Morbidelli was at fault for the incident in race one which saw their battle for the podium turned into a battle for fifth position instead.

The 20-year-old was chasing Morbidelli’s WestCoast Racing Honda for third as the Italian himself was battling the other championship protagonist, Stefano Comini’s Target SEAT for second, when the two made contact on lap nine at the final corner when Oriola dived down the inside of Morbidelli’s Honda.

With the two cars losing momentum following side-by-side contact, they were both passed by Jordi Gené and Andrea Belicchi’s SEATs, and Oriola struggled with damaged geometry on his León Racer, unable to finish any higher than sixth.

“This car is a little bit fragile so we have to work a little bit when we race against the Hondas as they seem to be stronger,” said Oriola to TouringCarTimes. “So in race two, I just wanted to have some points. I was just able to overtake a few people thanks to their mistakes and with the oil at the end there with (Andrea) Belicchi, but it was still really hard as Gianni was coming and he was so fast on the straights.”

Reflecting on the race one incident with Morbidelli, Oriola believes the Italian didn’t give him enough room, but that the two don’t see eye-to-eye on the incident.

“I was already inside of him, I had the hit on my rear tyres, so he just didn’t want to give me the space…but that’s two different points of view. He thinks it’s my fault, I think it’s his; but he’s always involved in something. At the end of the day he’s first (in the championship), has a faster car and a car that is stronger when hit, so I’m looking forward to going to circuits with more corners, which should make a difference.”