Nestor Girolami makes it two in a row at the Hungaroring

After winning a fairly processional Race 1, Nestor Girolami beat pole-sitter Jean-Karl Vernay to win a thrilling second WTCR race at the Hungaroring, with Daniel Haglöf recording his first WTCR podium finish after starting alongside Vernay on the front row of the grid.

Girolami did all the hard work right at the start of the twelve-lap race. Vernay was passed by Haglöf and Thed Björk in the drag race to the first corner, but an incident-packed opening lap saw contacts throughout the field with Girolami edging in front of Haglöf and Vernay to lead at the end of the lap after starting from sixth on the grid.

Vernay then retook second place from Haglöf on Lap 2 and, despite closing to within striking distance of Girolami in the race’s closing stages, the Honda driver held the Audi at bay to claim his second win of the weekend. Haglöf held onto third place to make it three different car brands on the podium, while his PWR Racing teammate Mikel Azcona finished fourth.

Reigning WTCR champion Gabriele Tarquini had a race to forget. After starting from seventh on the grid, his Hyundai i30 N was involved in a fight with Esteban Guerrieri’s Honda Civic and the Lynk & Co 03 of Yann Ehrlacher before a puncture sent Tarquini into the pits on Lap 10. Guerrieri went on to finish fifth while Ehrlacher was forced to retire.

Yvan Muller finished as the best of the Lynk & Co drivers in sixth position, one place ahead of the Volkswagen Golf of Rob Huff. Attila Tassi, Augusto Farfus and Nicky Catsburg rounded off the top ten.

The result means Girolami now shares the lead in the Drivers’ standings with his teammate Guerrieri. Race 3 will round off the WTCR’s Hungarian weekend at 17:00 local time.

Race 2 Result:

1. Nestor Girolami (Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic FK7), 12 laps
2. Jean-Karl Vernay (Leopard Racing, Audi RS3 LMS), 2.529
3. Daniel Haglöf (PWR Racing, CUPRA), 3.507
4. Mikel Azcona (PWR Racing, CUPRA), 5.260
5. Esteban Guerrieri (Münnich Motorsport, Honda Civic FK7), 12.822

Championship points

1. Girolami 90 pts;
2. Guerrieri 90
3.  Björk 70