Photo: Honda Racing Team WTCR

Esteban Guerrieri on top of the championship after Hungary podium

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Esteban Guerrieri has retaken the lead of the World Touring Car Cup drivers’ standings after finishing third in the first race of the weekend at the Hungaroring in his Münnich Motorsport Honda Civic TCR, and says it’s a fantastic feeling to be leading a championship after many years.

The Münnich Motorsport drivers Guerrieri and his team-mate Néstor Girolami had a strong first race of the weekend, as they did in Morocco, with Girolami converting pole to victory, and Guerrieri finishing third in the race.

Guerrieri now moves back into the lead of the championship on 75 points, five points clear of Cyan Racing Lynk & Co driver Thed Björk, who finished down in eighth.

“First I want to say well done to Nestor. I’m really happy for him,” said Guerrieri. “(We did a lot of testing here) and it helps, as it was the second track we tested and we found some good stuff. This track has a lot of consistent long corners, so you have to help the car to work around the long corners, and we found some good consistency and speed.

“The Honda Civic has started and worked well at two different types of tracks, so thanks to Honda who are supporting us, it’s a great way to start the season. It’s also been a long time since I led a championship – I think the last time was in 2012 in Indy Lights, so it’s a good feeling.”

Team-mate Girolami took his first World Touring Car win since Ningbo in 2017 with Polestar Cyan Racing, and was delighted, in particular with his start, as the Hondas feared the brand new Lynk & Co 03 TCR would have the edge over them off the line.

“I’m extremely happy to win my first race here in Budapest,” said Girolami. “I’ve actually remembered my first time in a touring car was here in 2015 , and my first win is here as well, so Budapest is something special for me,” he remarked, recalling his first WTCC test with Lada Sport in 2015.

“It’s an amazing way to state the season and ALL-INKL did a fantastic job, it’ s a really strong car. We have to keep working as this championship is so, so tight, so we have to be quick and smart and we did a really good job today.”