Nicky Catsburg handed penalty for Daniel Haglöf collision in Race 2

BRC Hyundai driver Nicky Catsburg has been demoted from eighth to 15th in the second race at Ningbo, after a 30-second penalty was given to him for contact with Daniel Haglöf’s Cupra during the closing laps of the race.

Catsburg had run a defensive race, allowing the BRC Hyundais of Norbert Michelisz and Gabriele Tarquini to get away while he backed up the Cyan Racing Lynk & Co of Thed Björk into Haglöf, which allowed the rival Swede through.

Haglöf then went for Catsburg himself, and overtook him for third, before Catsburg came back at him and made contact, dropping Haglöf behind the two Lynk & Cos of Yvan Muller and Thed Björk, while Catsburg fell back to eighth with damage.

“I did a really slick and clean move on him, but then he came back in some way, which is unfortunate, as I felt like I had a podium there,” said Haglöf to TouringCarTimes.

Catsburg was happy with how the race had gone up to that point, but admitted his tactic to try and hold back Haglöf was a mistake.

“Race 2 went according to plan, I backed everyone up and made sure my team-mates stayed in front, but then I pushed it a little too far in trying to slow down Haglöf even more and then he passed me and I touched him – I should have just pushed on and taken P3,” said Catsburg to TouringCarTimes.

Catsburg’s BRC Hyundai N Lukoil team-mate Augusto Farfus was also given a penalty for an incident in Race 2, which was a five-second penalty, but as Farfus didn’t finish the race this makes no difference to his final result.