Qualifying report
WTCC
Top five grid slots for Honda Civics at Moscow Raceway
Norbert Michelisz and Gabriele Tarquini in top five for the inaugural race at the Moscow Raceway
Published: Jun 9, 2013, 8:39 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Just half a second covers the top five cars on the grid for the inaugural World Touring Car Championship race to be held tomorrow on the Moscow Raceway 100 kilometres outside the Russian capital.
Four different brands are represented in the top five cars and two of those top five are Honda Civics driven by Norbert Michelisz and Gabriele Tarquini who worked in harmony on the very last possible lap of qualifying which was curtailed by the shower that had threatened from the start of the session. Norbert tracked Gabriele for the 3.9km lap to maximise the slipstream benefit on the long straight. Whilst Tarquini led the Honda train across the line Michelisz had the benefit and his Zengo Motorsport entry took 4th place on the grid fractionally ahead of the Italian in the Castrol Honda Racing machine.
Gabriele Tarquini, Honda Civic, Honda Racing Team J.A.S.
Photo by: XPB Images
Qualifying proved disappointing for Tiago Monteiro who experienced serious issues with the water cooling system which indicated overheating problems and he returned to the pits without completing a competitive timed lap which will result in him starting Race 1 from the rear of the grid.
"I am a very disappointed Portuguese at the moment as you can understand but when I look at the result I change to frustrated as I could have been the third Honda in the top five if everything had worked to plan," said a philosophical Tiago. "Maybe my luck will change at Porto which is my home track for the next event and really start the second half of the season on a high point."
Daisuke Horiuchi, Large Project Leader for WTCC development from Honda R&D reports: "We have made small alterations to the engine mapping and the improved bonnet profile that helps turbo cooler airflow to give more power but we are still looking for better lap times. On Tiago's car, having analysed its data, and because of the overheating issues, the team will change the engine overnight as a precautionary measure."
Castrol Honda World Touring Car Team
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Massa criticises F1 medical response after Monaco crash
Next article Tiago Monteiro unable to take part in Moscow qualifying
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Tiago Monteiro
Monteiro says he lost focus in "very emotional" final laps
WTCR
WTCR
Vila Real
Monteiro says he lost focus in "very emotional" final laps
Portugal WTCR: Monteiro scores first win since return
WTCR
WTCR
Vila Real
Portugal WTCR: Monteiro scores first win since return
Monteiro joins new Honda squad for full-time WTCR return
WTCR
WTCR
Monteiro joins new Honda squad for full-time WTCR return
More from
Zengo Motorsport
Huff makes WTCR return with Zengo Cupra squad
WTCR
WTCR
Huff makes WTCR return with Zengo Cupra squad
Zengo rookie secures seat for rest of 2017
WTCC
WTCC
Zengo rookie secures seat for rest of 2017
Zengo retains Nagy for second WTCC seat
WTCC
WTCC
Zengo retains Nagy for second WTCC seat
Latest news
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
49 min
Who slept worst last night: Fernando Alonso
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
Carlos Ezpeleta: Qatar GP “noise” left MotoGP unnecessarily exposed
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
1 h
Oscar Piastri splits from Mark Webber management
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
WEC
WEC WEC
Monza
3 h
WEC drivers question lack of full-course yellow after heavy Monza crash
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe