Huff quickest as WTCC finale begins in Macau

The final event of the FIA world Touring Car Championship got underway this afternoon as Chevrolet’s Rob Huff (2:33.120) posted the quickest time around the streets of Macau. His Chevrolet teammate Alain Menu (2:33.474) was next up with Andy Priaulx (2:34.006) improving on his last run to finish third quickest. Macau is one of the BMW Team RBM driver’s firm favourites and he will be hoping to move ahead of Gabriele Tarquini to secure second the championship this weekend.

Tom Coronel (2:34.116) was the fastest of the SEAT drivers in fourth ahead of newly crowned World Champion Yvan Muller (2:34226). Tiago Monteiro (2:34.946) was sixth ahead of Augusto Farfus (2:35.046), Tarquini (2:35.082) and the best rookie Norbert Michelisz (2:35.343). Macao racer André Couto (2:35.890) rounded out the top ten on his first WTCC outing this season.

Franz Engstler (2:36.692) topped the independents in 11th ahead of fellow independent racers Daryl O’Young (2:36.710) and Sergio Hernández (2:36.813) in 12th and 13th respectively.

The red flags were out before a lap had been completed in the 30-minute session. On his season debut, the Honda Civic Type-R of Macau’s Chan Kin Man and the BMW 320si of Andrei Romanov hit the wall at the Hospital bend.

With just over 10-minutes to go, Masaki Kano also clipped the barriers exiting the “R” Bend and spun his BMW 320si across the track. The car was moved from the circuit under yellows.