Frustrated Michelisz had sights set on victory

He lost out to Lopez

By Emmanuel Touzot

10 August 2016 - 10:03
Frustrated Michelisz had sights (...)

Settling for second was the last thing on Norbert Michelisz’s mind during his heroic bid to win the Main Race at FIA WTCC Race of Argentina on Sunday.

Factory Honda racer Michelisz made the most of his front-row start to demote home hero José María López through the opening sequence of corners. Despite intense pressure from the double world champion, Michelisz held top spot until López finally managed to get ahead on lap seven. And to compound the Hungarian’s frustration, contact with Yvan Muller sent his Civic WTCC skating through a gravel trap, dropping to eighth place at the finish.

Michelisz, who turned 32 yesterday, said: “My focus was all on the Main Race because from a front-row start, I knew I had a great chance to get my first win of the season. I was under great pressure and it would have been perhaps sensible to not battle and instead settle for an easy podium, but we are racing here and the aim was to get a victory. I’m very disappointed to have lost the possibility of a race win, but unfortunately there was contact between me and Yvan Muller and because of this I went off through the gravel and dropped to P8. The frustration is huge.”

Afterwards López admitted Michelisz had proved a real threat. “Norbert did a better start than me, which I knew would be possible. He moved very well and did a fantastic defensive manoeuvre in Turn 2. I have to say thank you to the team and especially to Yvan who allowed me to have a go at Michelisz without disturbing me. Without that it would have been very difficult. When we went side-to-side for Turn 9 something happened because he defended from Yvan and let the inside clear for me.”

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