Nathanaël Berthon dominates WTCR Race 1 at Slovakia Ring
Nathanaël Berthon took his WTCR maiden win in Race 1 at the Slovakia Ring, at the wheel of a Comtoyou Racing Audi RS 3 LMS.
On a drying track, after the early morning rain, all drivers were faced with the dilemma of tyre choice, but the Frenchman, starting from the pole position, proved uncatchable.
He only conceded the lead during the first two laps to Nicky Catsburg’s Team Engstler Hyundai i30 N, who took a perfect start from the first row of the grid but would progressively drop positions, struggling with the wet tyres and eventually finishing 17th.
Gabriele Tarquini, in the Hyundai of BRC Squadra Corse, finished second after a very smooth race, having passed the Team Mulsanne Alfa Romeo Giulietta of Jean-Karl Vernay during the second lap. The latter completed the podium after a solid performance, confirming that the Slovak circuit suits well the Italian car.
The fourth position was for Esteban Guerrieri, who battled fiercely with his fellow countryman and teammate Néstor Girolami. There was some rubbing between the two Argentines at the wheel of the Honda Civic cars run by Münnich Motorsport, with Guerrieri eventually winning the duel during the last lap.
Tom Coronel and Gilles Magnus followed in sixth and seventh positions, completing an excellent first run for the Comtoyou Audi cars; they were followed by the current championship leader Yann Ehrlacher, in the best of the Lynk & Co cars, who took the most out of a not easy race for him, while the reigning champion Norbert Michelisz rounded off the top-10.
Race 2 takes place at 12:45 CEST, with Girolami starting from pole position alongside Luca Filippi.
Race 1
1. Nathanaël Berthon (Comtoyou Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 9 laps
2. Gabriele Tarquini (BRC Racing, Hyundai i30 N), 3.054
3. Jean-Karl Vernay (Team Mulsanne, Alfa Romeo Giulietta Veloce), 7.266
4. Esteban Guerrieri (Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 7.822
5. Néstor Girolami (Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 8.987
Championship points
1. Yann Ehrlacher 99 pts; 2. Néstor Girolami 72; 3. Yvan Muller 63
Picture: WTCR/DPPI
