Münnich Motorsport drivers delighted with double-podium at the season’s start

The all-Argentinian line-up of Esteban Guerrieri and Néstor Girolami are delighted after a strong start to the 2019 World Touring Car Cup season, with Guerrieri scoring the maximum possible points with pole position and a victory on Saturday, and with Néstor Girolami finishing third on his world touring car return.

Guerrieri made a sluggish start from pole, and had to fight hard to keep behind the Lynk & Co 03 TCR of Thed Björk at the start, but was then able to keep the 2017 champion at bay for the remainder of the race.

Girolami was running third into the first two corners, before he was outbraked into Turn 3 by touring car stalwart Andy Priaulx in the #111 Lynk & Co 03 TCR, and fell behind the Audi of Jean-Karl Vernay, but Girolami was able to regain both spots when Vernay made contact with Priaulx at Turn 1 on lap five, with Priaulx losing ground and then Vernay hit with a post-race time penalty.

“This feeling is special,” said Guerrieri. “To have Néstor behind me (on the podium) to start with, I visualised this moment years ago. We have a great team, it’s my second year with them and we’re always fighting hard, it’s very special.

“Of course it’s something that I’ve really desired, and these last months haven’t been easy on the personal side, but we’ve tried hard to develop the car and we’ve been getting better and better.

“We didn’t know what to expect until we got here in Marrakech, and it looks like what we’ve done is right.”

Guerrieri’s new team-mate Girolami added:

“What can I say? It’s been amazing,” he said. “We have been working with Esteban for many, many years, and for me this is a dream come true.

“I want to congratulate Honda, and all the people at ALL-INKL, and the people that put trust in me. And now we’re going to push hard for the rest of the season to fight for the championship.”