Race 2 - Tarquini wins from Bennani | Federation Internationale de l'Automobile

Race 2 - Tarquini wins from Bennani

09.09.13

Gabriele Tarquini won Race 2 at the Sonoma Raceway and so gave Honda the WTCC Manufacturers’ title with three more race meetings remaining.

After starting from second place on the grid, it took only two corners for Tarquini to pass the driver on pole position, Mehdi Bennani in a BMW, and the Italian then led for the remainder of the thirteen-lap race to take a comfortable victory. Despite struggling throughout the race with damaged power-steering, Bennani managed to keep hold over second place and win the Yokohama Trophy.

Third, in another Honda Civic, was Norbert Michelisz; the Zengö Motorsport driver having to fend off a determined challenge from Yvan Muller throughout the closing laps.

Muller needed to out-score Tarquini and Michel Nykjaer to take the Drivers’ title, but the Honda driver’s victory means the battle remains alive at least until the next pair of races in Japan.

At one stage, it looked as though the reigning World Champion Rob Huff was on course for a podium finish, but the SEAT limped into the pits with a puncture on only the second lap. Other non-finishers included Charles Ng, Franz Engstler and Pepe Oriola.

Key moments

Lap 1 – Tarquini passes Bennani for the lead in Turn 2; Muller passes Monteiro for 6th

Lap 2 – Huff drops down after running wide at T7, then pits with a puncture

Lap 3 – Coronel is up to 7th; Engstler retires

Lap 4 – Muller passes Nash for 4th; Monteiro passes Nash for 5th

Lap 5 – Coronel passes Nash for 6th; Ng spins at T6; Barth passes Basseng for 8th

Lap 7 – D’Aste passes Basseng for 9th

Lap 9 – Barth passes Nash for 7th

Lap 10 – O’Young attacks Basseng

Lap 11 – Muller attacks Michelisz

Lap 12 – Chilton goes sideways through Turn 2

Lap 13 – Tarquini takes the win

Race 2 - Tarquini wins from Bennani

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