Sweden’s WestCoast Racing emphatically locked-out the podium places in Round 3 of the TCR International Series at China’s Shanghai International Circuit (SIC), with ex-Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli leading the charge (Saturday 11 April).
The Halmstad-based outfit’s precision was evident from the outset as Morbidelli and America’s Kevin Gleason tussled for top honours in Friday’s (10 April) free practice sessions to stamp WestCoast Racing’s authority on the weekend.
The team showed no sign of slowing in Saturday’s (11 April) qualifying, Morbidelli carrying momentum to top the timesheets and head the sister Honda Civic TCRs driven by René Münnich and Gleason in second and third places respectively, as the expected challenge from the rival SEAT Leóns and Audi TTs failed to materialise.
F1 supremo, Bernie Ecclestone, once again took time to visit the series, conversing with key personnel and reuniting with Morbidelli – a veteran of some 70 F1 Grand Prix – as drivers lined-up on the grid for the weekend’s opening race.
Engine notes rose when the five red lights appeared on the overhead gantry and Morbidelli led the field away towards the long sweeping Turn 1, while former-FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) driver Münnich and Gleason were pipped off the line.
Showing his years’ of motorsport experience, Morbidelli added to his long string of successes in international touring car racing, leading from lights-to-flag to stand on the top step of the podium and take the initiative in the Drivers’ standings.
Münnich, meanwhile, became entangled in a closely-fought battle with Pepe Oriola and, while the two traded paint several times on the opening tour, the latter would later retire, allowing Münnich to run a comfortable race in clear air and claim his first piece of TCR silverware for a second-place finish.
Gleason would endure an epic topsy-turvy battle with Malaysia race winner, Stefano Comini. The brawling duo swapped places several times throughout the ten-lap race, grabbing the attention of both the television cameras and trackside spectators, but it was the American driver who came out on top to complete a spectacular WestCoast Racing one-two-three for the Halmstad outfit.
“It has been the perfect race weekend so far,” said race winner and championship leader, Morbidelli. “WestCoast Racing has been fantastic and supplied me with a brilliant car, and we hope we can continue this way tomorrow, as the circuit seems to suit us better than our rivals.”
Delighted to finish second, Münnich said, “I really enjoyed it out there and it’s nice to be on the podium. I was running with Gianni (Morbidelli) for most of the race and was even catching him towards the end, as I think my tyres were in better shape. Following him helped me learn a lot from him, but now he needs to learn how to drink beer from me!”
Gleason added: “I believe Stefano Comini and I put on a great show today. The team gave me a great car and I needed it during my race-long battle with Comini, where I was made to work hard due to my poor start. I really enjoyed the fight and expect a lot more of the same from eighth on tomorrow’s reversed grid.”
The second and final TCR International Series race of the weekend on China’s Shanghai International Circuit is scheduled to get underway at 10.30 (CET).
For more information on WestCoast Racing, please visit the official www.westcoastracing.se website, ‘like’ the team’s Facebook page and follow @WestCoast Racing on Twitter.