Thed Björk and Yann Ehrlacher explain Zandvoort Race 3 position changes

Thed Björk and Yann Ehrlacher have moved to clarify the position changes which took place in the final race of the weekend at Zandvoort, with a perceived drive-through penalty for Ehrlacher the main cause of the drama.

Ehrlacher had started from pole position in his Lynk & Co 03 TCR, but had a slow start and Björk was quickly alongside. Ehrlacher moved to cover the door but made side-to-side contact with Björk’s car, with Björk still taking the lead into Tarzan.

The team then ordered Björk to led Ehrlacher by a lap later, after the Frenchman had been given a black and white flag for his move at the start, to allow Ehrlacher to build a gap, according to Björk.

“They explained to me that Yann had a drive-through, so they wanted to give him some space, and then after they said this was a misunderstanding,” said Björk to TouringCarTimes.

“So, the problem was everyone thought he had a drive-through –I was surprised as to why he might have had a drive-through, and then I found out it was because he ran into me at the start.”

With Ehrlacher only having been given a warning, there was no penalty, with Ehrlacher then asked to return the position to Björk.

The agreement at the team was to make no dangerous moves at the start, with Ehrlacher and Björk expected to hold station, but due to Ehrlacher’s poor start, the team’s position changed, which was the cause of much frustration on the radio.

“We had an agreement at the start, but my start wasn’t good and I picked up a lot of wheelspin,” said Ehrlacher to TouringCarTimes.

“Thed had a run on me, and we arrived at Turn 1 together – then he let me go. I did a few laps in the lead and then they judged the start was not that clear.

“They took the right decision,” said a now more calm Ehrlacher. “What you give, you will get back. The main thing is it’s another Lynk & Co 1-2 despite the fact they are trying to slow us down.”