Photo: WTCR

Thed Björk not disappointed to miss out on the first WTCR win

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2017 WTCC drivers’ champion Thed Björk was buoyant after the first race of the all-new World Touring Car Cup in Morocco, after the Swedish driver finished second after starting from pole in the YMR Hyundai i30 N TCR, placing pressure on the rival BRC Hyundai of Gabriele Tarquini throughout the race.

Björk fell behind Tarquini at the start, with the Italian pulling away after both of the safety car restarts, but was able to close up to the Italian and apply pressure during the race.

“I’m really happy, there are so many good drivers and I’ve started on the top,” said Björk to TouringCarTimes. “Pole position, and then second from pole position, so I have a good feeling for tomorrow.”

Björk wasn’t too bothered by Tarquini’s better start than him in the i30.

“(Tarquini’s) doing a really good job and he’s developed the car so he knows how to start it, so it’s no problem,” he explained.

With overtaking proving to be difficult around the Moroccan street circuit, with a number of incidents throughout the race, the YMR driver says that if he repeated his pole for tomorrow’s race, the reversed grid race could be very difficult.

“If I take the pole tomorrow and start P10, I have no idea if it’s even possible to overtake around here,” he said. “It will be difficult. Qualifying pace will be the success of the season, as you can have two races in the front, then you just have to make sure you don’t crash in the reversed one.”