Photo: WTCR Media

Thed Björk closes up, but Gabriele Tarquini still on top in points battle

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2017 WTCC drivers’ champion Thed Björk made a massive leap forward in the championship after doubling his number of victories this season over a single weekend at Ningbo, but BRC’s Gabriele Tarquini remains on top after a consistent weekend for the 2009 champion.

Björk took both pole positions and victories in Race 1 and 3, with seventh in Race 2 ensuring the Swede racked up a strong haul of points at Ningbo in China.

Tarquini meanwhile finished fourth in Race 1 and second in Race 3, retiring in Race 2 with damage to his BRC Hyundai i30 N TCR, while title rival Yvan Muller also endured a mixed Sunday, with victory in Race 2 while retiring with a damaged damper in Race 3 after contact with WRT’s Jean-Karl Vernay.

“It was a fantastic race from the start, just flying way from the others and having a race by myself,” said Björk.
“After the red flag as well I was just flying away. I must be really happy with the team, who work so hard putting the car together all the time. It felt so good, in the window [of performance] all the time and I just had to drive.”

Tarquini maintains an eight point lead of the championship over Björk, after battling back from a five-place grid penalty in Race 1 to finish fourth, while Sunday’s races contained their ups and downs.

“Unfortunately, the second race was not as good as the first one,” said Tarquini.

“I had a big accident on corner number 11 because there was a big fight in front of me and a car stopped in the middle of the chicane. I broke the intercooler and the race was over for me. Fortunately, the guys were fantastic for me during the second race and the repair time. They changed the radiator, the intercooler, the front splitter and everything.

“In the end, the car was almost perfect. The third race was very good for me because I gained two positions on the first lap and after it was just following Thed. I mean he was faster than me in the initial part of the race and also after the restart, so there was no chance to follow him. I’m happy with the second place.”