WestCoast Racing is deflated and underwhelmed by what was achieved in two dramatic and controversial TCR International Series races at the Red Bull Ring (Sunday 12 July).
It was testament to the Swedish team’s persistence that it managed to resolve setup issues that blighted its trio of Honda Civic TCRs in free practice for Gianni Morbidelli and Kevin Gleason to achieve a sensational one-two result in qualifying (Saturday 11 July).
Hopeful this front row lockout could be converted into podium finishes or even race wins, there was still a concern that grip would be at a premium in the cooler ambient temperatures felt at the Red Bull Ring as the cars lined-up on the grid early on Sunday (12 July) morning.
Morbidelli had a relatively slow getaway and subsequently found himself in third behind the second WestCoast Racing Honda of Gleason and Target Competition’s Stefano Comini at Turn 1.
A loss of momentum saw Gleason tumble to fourth during the opening lap, leaving Morbidelli to chase down new race leader Comini and instigate what became a heated exchange for the race one victory.
The racing was hard, but fair and positions changed hands countless times in a fascinating tussle that sometimes featured the second Target Competition car of Andrea Belicchi and the Team Craft-Bamboo LUKOIL SEAT of Pepe Oriola.
However, Morbidelli was locked on Target and unrelenting pressure forced Comini into mistakes that ultimately cost him the lead, his Italian rival sweeping into first position at the end of the penultimate lap and heading the field across the finish line in his WestCoast Racing Honda.
Sadly that highly entertaining spectacle was somewhat dampened when drivers’ actions were investigated in a post-race stewards inquiry, which resulted in Morbidelli being handed a 30-second time penalty that demoted him to 11th in the final classification.
Gleason, meanwhile, had his hands full throughout the 14-lap contest and was unable to stay on terms with the leading quartet while playing a rear-guard action against Jordi Gene.
The 28-year old American fell as low as seventh but eventually got the better of Sergey Afanasyev to take a hard-earned fifth and his Ukrainian teammate, Igor Skuz, made headway from the back of the grid to finish 12th.
Events in race two only served to increase WestCoast Racing’s frustration, as braking issues led to retirements for Skuz and Morbidelli, who take no points away from the races at the Red Bull Ring, and debilitating understeer resigned Gleason in the sole remaining Honda to another fifth place result.
The European leg of the TCR International Series is now complete and the championship embarks on a lengthy summer break before travelling to the Far East for Round 9 of the 2015 season, which will be held as part of the Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix support bill on the floodlit Marina Bay street circuit (19-20 September).
For more information on WestCoast Racing, please visit the officialwww.westcoastracing.se website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page and follow@WestCoast Racing on Twitter.