Pepe Oriola shines in the European Cup

WTCC youngest racer, Pepe Oriola finished runner up to touring car star Fabrizio Giovanardi in the FIA European Touring Car Cup that took place yesterday at the Austrian Salzburgring.
In difficult weather conditions, with the track flooded by pouring rain, the 17-year old Spaniard showed that his first year in WTCC is bringing him to maturity very quickly, and just like a veteran he fought with Giovanardi with no awes.

After setting pole position on Saturday, the Italian – a former double champion in the European and British touring car championships – won the first race in his Hartmann Racing Honda Accord, but Oriola’s SEAT León TDi was chasing him for the whole distance, threatening his leadership in more than one occasion.

The young Spaniard won the second race with a great recovery from the seventh position on the reversed starting grid, resisting the pressure from Giovanardi who came home second.
With the two competitors finishing with equal results, the title was awarded on the basis of the qualifying points, which meant that Giovanardi was crowned champion by one mere point

Oriola said: “Unfortunately the title fight was decided by qualifying points. Yesterday’s qualifying was a bit crazy with all those weather changes. Maybe in a different situation I could have won that point that made the difference. Anyway, second behind Giovanardi was a great result for me and the team. I did my best to follow him in the first race and pushed at the maximum in the second. I am also very proud to be the driver who gave the SEAT TDi its last victory.”

Tomas Engström (Honda Accord) confirmed his consistency and finished third, his fourth podium result in the Euro Cup. Michel Nykjær had less luck, as his hopes to win a third European title were swept away by unexpected engine problems that plagued his Chevrolet Cruze in the qualifying and the races.