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Clutch issue ruins Hugo Valente’s race in Vila Real

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Campos Racing’s Hugo Valente lost the opportunity to make the most of his third place on the grid for today’s first race at Vila Real, after a clutch issue saw him lose ground at the start and then contact with Citroën’s Ma Qing Hua saw him retire from the race early.

The 23-year-old had outperformed all the other Chevrolet RML drivers in qualifying, the only driver to break out of Q1 with the others all lining up from 14th onwards, and then secured his position in the top five shootout with the fifth best time in Q2, going on to set the third best time behind the Citroëns of José María López and Sébastien Loeb after qualifying, but a bad start saw him fall behind the three Hondas behind him and fall into a battle with the other two works Citroëns.

“There was a problem with the clutch,” explained Valente to TouringCarTimes. “As I went out of the pit lane I told them there was an issue with the RPM settings and they tried to fix it on the grid, but the formation lap was a disaster and the start was a disaster. It’s really annoying as it’s the third time I’m starting in the top three and always seem to finish last.”

Reflecting on the battle with the Citroëns of Yvan Muller and Ma Qing Hua, Valente added:

“I tried to keep everyone behind me but it was impossible. I had a little contact with Yvan, and then with Ma, and broke my front upright, so we’ll see for race two. I’m starting eighth, and if I’m 15th by the first corner I’m just going to come back in the pits, as this is really bothering me.”