Jordi Gené blames strategy mistake for difficult qualifying

Despite some very good performances throughout the weekend, Jordi Gené only placed his Craft-Bamboo Lukoil SEAT in fifth, whereas the Spaniard is adamant he could have been at least one row ahead.

“We made a mistake as we used new brakes for qualifying,” admitted the SEAT driver. “As a result, the balance had changed, and it was quite difficult to get a perfect lap in that situation, whereas Pepe (Oriola) managed to do that. I think I would have been able to gain at least a couple of tenths, so I could have started from the second row.”

Talking about Gianni Morbidelli and his performance, Gené conceded that the Italian is almost out of the fight for the title: “It is possible, of course, but with three opponents against him in such a tight championship it is going to be very hard. Even if he has a very good weekend here, he will enter Macau about 30 points shy of the lead, and that is too much to make up for in Macau, because that track is special and it’s not like any other track in the world.”

Gené still lies third in the championship, but his fifth place means he is now 29 points behind championship leader Stefano Comini.