Honda handed WTCC MAC3 victory

Honda has claimed its first outright victory in the WTCC Manufacturers Against the Clock team time trial after a penalty dropped Citroën from first to second at the Hungaroring.

Citroën was set to celebrate its third consecutive WTCC MAC3 top score by a narrow 0.174s margin over Honda. However, a track limit infringement by Mehdi Bennani – who formed part of Citroën’s three-car team along with José María López and Yvan Muller – resulted in a 30-second time penalty and a one-place demotion.

LADA, which finished third with Nicky Catsburg, Gabriele Tarquini and Hugo Valente, was also penalised by 30 seconds when Valente also fell foul of the track limit rules at Turn 11.

WTCC MAC3 was inspired by professional cycling events such as the Tour de France and both incidents underlined the importance of effective team work with on-track errors having a major impact on the final result.

And the amended result means Honda celebrates its second maximum WTCC MAC3 score having tied on time with Citroën in Slovakia. Honda also moves seven points clear of Citroën in the WTCC Manufacturers’ standings following the strong showing by its trio of Rob Huff, Norbert Michelisz and Tiago Monteiro in the Civic WTCC, who performed without fault over two laps of the 4.381-kilometre layout.

WTCC MAC3 results

Honda: 3m41.712s (10 points)
Citroën: +29.826s (8 points)*
LADA: +31.316s (6 points)*

*Time penalty of 30 seconds applies. Results remain provisional.