Sergey Afanasyev ready to play for the team

Sergey Afanasyev scored a good fourth in today’s Qualifying at Buriram, Thailand, proving how much progress he has made throughout the season. With the title hopes gone, the Russian is ready to work for the team.

“I will do my best to help Craft-Bamboo Lukoil clinch the title,” said the SEAT driver to TouringCarTimes. That means I will not try to attack Pepe (Oriola) if it’s not necessary, but I also want to do my race and get a good result.”

Reflecting on the season, the Russian is happy with the progress he has made: “I come from GTs, so it was hard for me to adapt and to be as quick as these guys (team-mates Oriola and Jordi Gené) who are touring car specialists. The front-wheel driven SEAT is a whole different world, and I’m happy I am now much closer to them, and so is my sponsor Lukoil. I need to improve my racecraft, but I think the speed is now there.”

When asked if he would try to get in Stefano Comini’s way in order to help Oriola clinch the title, the Russian was categorical: “I will not get in the way of their fight. It is their game and it would not be nice nor fair of me to interfere, I wouldn’t do it even if somebody asked me to. I am a sportsman.”

Afanasyev will start the first race from the second row, next to WestCoast Racing’s Kevin Gleason.