Pepe Oriola: “Nordschleife podium feels like a victory”

Campos Racing’s Pepe Oriola has said his second place finish in Race 2 at the Nürburgring Nordschleife feels like a victory, after a tough start to the year for the team in this year’s World Touring Car Cup.

Oriola started from pole position for the reversed grid race but was passed at the start by the Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic of Esteban Guerrieri who went on to take his first victory of the season.

The 23-year-old Oriola had a safe fun to second, keeping in touch with Guerrieri, and staying clear of the battle for third between the Comtoyou Audi of Frédéric Vervisch and the YMR Hyundai of Yvan Muller.

“It feels like a victory for me, as I was competing with people who have been here for a few years,” said Oriola to TouringCarTimes. “I did everything perfectly; I tried to stay with Esteban (Guerrieri) on the Nordschleife but he was a little bit faster in the last sector before the straight so I couldn’t stay with him.

“I’m really happy for me, Campos, and Cupra. It’s our second podium and we’ve been struggling a lot this year, so I’m really happy with this result, and I love this track, it’s really challenging. It’s a box ticked to have raced at the Nordschleife.”