Engine change puts points leader Esteban Guerrieri to back of Macau grid

World Touring Car Cup championship leader Esteban Guerrieri will start the opening WTCR race at Macau from the back of the grid following an engine change.

Guerrieri struggled to 13th place in Friday’s first qualifying session, suffering a lack of top speed that accounted to roughly one second of time loss according to Honda sources.

Guerrieri’s Münnich Motorsport team have since decided to change the engine of his Civic Type R TCR, inflicting a penalty that puts him to the back of the Race 1 grid.

KCMG’ Tiago Monteiro is now set to be the leading Honda at the start of the opening race, in 14th place.

Guerrieri currently leads the WTCR standings by just two points from BRC Hyundai’s Norbert Michelisz, who is set to start Race 1 from the front row of the grid alongside pole-sitter Yvan Muller.