Photo: WTCC Media

Néstor Girolami aiming for further outings in Asia after strong WTCC debut

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Reigning Super TC 2000 champion Néstor Girolami has scored points on his World Touring Car Championship debut with Nika Racing, and hopes for more outings in the WTCC this year. The Argentinian is currently scheduled to take part at Vila Real in Portugal next month, but also hopes to race in Thailand and Qatar at the end of the season.

Girolami had qualified in 18th position as all the Hondas struggled for qualifying pace at the Slovakiaring today, but after fighting his way forward to tenth in race one and scoring a point in his first race, followed by 11th in race two despite a scare when he nearly collected the stalled Citroën of Ma Qing Hua at the start, the 26-year-old was happy with his first weekend and is already looking forward to more races.

“The car today was much faster than yesterday, and I’m still learning,” said Girolami. “I’m very happy and in my first race I got one point, and in my second race I was 11th, and this is important to also have finished my races.

“I enjoyed the first race more than the second,” he added, reflecting on his battle with Münnich’s Stefano D’Aste, in which he came off the better. “In the first race I had a good start, but the second race made a good start but I found the Citroën of Ma stalled on the grid and I was very close to crashing. I was lucky I was able to cut onto the grass, but it was very close.”

“I enjoyed the weekend. I need to learn with my team and with my car and with Honda. I want to thank Francois Ribeiro (WTCC General Manager) and the category for the support and Honda motorsport as well. I’d like very much to be here next year and I’m working very hard towards this.”

On his immediate future programme in the WTCC, Girolami added that he could be in a further three races with the Nika Racing team this season.

“(I’m racing in) Portugal of course, and then maybe Thailand and Qatar, but I’m not sure as it’s close to the calendar of the Super TC 2000. I’d like to do (these races) as they are two new races, so I’d like but I don’t know right now.”