Oriola takes TCR race one

Manama : Spain’s Pepe Oriola driving a SEAT Leon TCR clinched race one of the opening round of the TCR International Series for Touring Cars yesterday as a support to the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir.

The Spaniard completed the 10-lap 54.366km race in 22 minutes:25.883 seconds after starting the race fifth on the grid following qualifying after a great start and keeping the lead throughout after gaining it in the opening lap.

Second place went to second Italian Gianni Morbidelli driving a Honda Civic TCR who was 2.372 seconds behind the winner, after starting on the grid in fourth and working his way to second spot halfway through the race.

Morbidelli also recorded the fastest lap on the fourth (2:12.602) and a top speed of 146.929k/ph, while third place and the final podium place went to Briton James Nash driving a SEAT Lion TCR a further 3.219 seconds) behind.

Fourth place went to Sergey Afanasyev (Rus, SEAT Leon TCR, +4.995) who led the grid after qualifying earlier in the day, while Aku Pellinen (Fin, Honda Civic TCR, +9.902) was fifth and Dusan Borkovic (Srb, SEAT Leon TCR, +9.919) was sixth after dropping from second on the grid in the early stages and recovering around halfway.

Rounding out the top eight were defending champion Stefano Comino (Sui, Volkswagon Golf Gti TCR (+20.087) seventh and Mat’o Homolo (Svk, SEAT Leon TCR, +23.319) eighth.

Bahrain’s Salman bin Isa bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa (SEAT Leon Cup Racer, +54.024) finished 15th after starting 17th and compatriot Hussain Karimi (SEAT Leon Cup Racer, +77.967) improved to finish two places higher at 16th out of the 18-strong field. After the Bahrain leg, the series in its second edition then moves to Portugal followed by Belgium, Italy, Austria, Germany, Russia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and concludes in Macau.

Today Race Two takes place at 2.30pm over 10 laps or a 25 minute time limit.