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Brno: Tom Coronel weekend summary

Tom Coronel masters twin brother Tim in FIA WTCC-weekend Brno During the build up to the double FIA WTCC race at Brno there was quite some attention for the participation of both Tim and Tom Coronel in the WTCC. Thanks to his good performance in ...

Tom Coronel masters twin brother Tim in FIA WTCC-weekend Brno

During the build up to the double FIA WTCC race at Brno there was quite some attention for the participation of both Tim and Tom Coronel in the WTCC. Thanks to his good performance in the previous SEAT Leon Euro Cup races Tim Coronel earned himself a one off drive in the WTCC SEAT Leon TFSi of SUNRED Engineering, the team that also prepares the car for twin brother Tom Coronel. Given the unique fact of two twin brothers racing together in one team in the World Championship, the Coronels took the twin look a bit further. So the two arrived for the first free practice session wearing the same pair of overalls, the same helmets and the same livery on the car. The only notable difference was the number on the car. With and advantage of several years of experience in the SEAT Leon TFSi Tom was obviously the quicker of the two, although Tim was not far behind. In qualifying Tom took 16th place, while Tim was in 20th. The first race had a hectic start and was exciting all the way to the finish. Tom finished in 9th and Tim in 12th place. In the second race we saw much of the same for the Coronels. Tom again finished at the tail of the lead group in ninth place while Tim took 16th. Despite finishing second in the privateer battle in both of the races Tom lost out the lead in the Yokohama Independents trophy standings to Felix Porteiro. The Dutchman is now in second place, but is still very much fighting for the title.

Tom reflects on the unusual weekend with a smile. "It certainly was a strange weekend. We were dressed up as full twins, which was a big hit with the media. A lot of attention and a lot of questions. Of course we came to race here and it was my job to coach Tim in his first outing in the FIA WTCC. He was a quick pupil and during the first part of qualifying I towed him around. In the final part we changed roles so that I could set my time. In the past few years the Brno track proved to be a track for the rear wheel driven cars due to its long, high-speed sweeping curves, so we knew beforehand that we needed to be alert and benefit from others making mistakes in order to score with our front wheel driven SEAT Leons. We received a lot of assistance at the start when a lot of cars were eliminated at the first corner. By choosing the outside line Tim and I were able to go around the carnage. My car felt good and the handling was perfect. After that hectic opening lap I was fighting throughout the race with Italian driver Vito Postiglione in a BMW. We were driving behind SEAT works driver Yvan Muller and my only concern was to keep the Italian behind me and hold on to second place in the privateer standings. Postiglione gave it all to pass me, but getting close is something else that getting passed. He did not manage to overtake me. Not in the first race and certainly not in the second race. In that race I started from ninth and I saw Tim closing up behind me. I was still in touch with the lead group after a nice move on Franz Engstler in his BMW. Felix Porteiro, who was leading the privateer battle, was already too far ahead, so I concentrated on keeping my position. Given the circuit's characteristics I am quite happy with the result. We took the maximum available score for the Independents Trophy for us and we know that the next circuit will suit our car even better. In two weeks time we will go to the streets of Porto, a street circuit with a twisty nature. We will be in full fight there to regain the lead of the Independents championship", Tom Coronel concludes.

-credit: tomcoronel.nl

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