Pepe Oriola and James Nash distraught after Race 1 failures in Thailand
Craft-Bamboo Racing drivers Pepe Oriola and James Nash were left disappointed after almost certain podium results for the two drivers were lost when first a second driveshaft failure saw Nash retire, with Oriola stopping while in second on the final lap.
Oriola had started sixth and had capitalised on a failed move by the M1RA team to try and get Attila Tassi ahead of Norbert Michelisz, making his way past both Team WRT’s Jean-Karl Vernay and the Honda of Tassi to move up into third, which would then become second after race leader Mat’o Homola’s retirement.
“He tried to slow down and let Tassi pass around the outside, but they had no speed, so I just braked later,” said Oriola to TouringCarTimes.
“It’s really bad luck, as with this result I’d have been back on the title fight,” he added, as he notched up his sixth DNF and DNS of the season. “These things always happen when I’m second or first or somewhere like that– it never happens when I’m ninth.”
Nash was equally disappointed after qualifying on the front row, just 0.004 seconds behind pole, despite breaking a driveshaft in qualifying – but the same malady struck again early in the race.
“It was another driveshaft failure, so that’s two brand new driveshafts in a weekend,” Nash told TouringCarTimes. “When I went down to Turn 3, it felt like a lock up, but it wasn’t, and then a few laps later it breaks; it’s just a bit disappointing really. I can’t believe it’s two failed parts, there must be a cause somewhere.”
