GOAT Racing Honda driver Esteban Guerrieri lost two positions late in Race 1 at Marrakech, when he was twice passed by the two Cyan Racing Lynk & Co cars of Thed Björk and Ma Qing Hua at Turn 7.
While Björk was penalised with a five-second penalty for the contact in the corner, Ma’s move to get past Guerrieri’s Civic just a lap later was deemed a fair pass, and the Chinese driver was successful in moving up to seventh place.
“I was starting to lose a bit of pace, and when I saw them swapping positions behind me, I knew they were going to attack,” explained Guerrieri. “Björk’s move was a copy-paste of my move on Ma in Vallelunga, so it was fair he got a five-second penalty, but Ma’s move I think should be addressed as well. You can bang front wheels to front wheels, but if you’re not in control in the car when you make the contact, then you’re stopping using the car in front of you.”
“It was also a big hit,” he added. “I hurt my knee and my thumb, and I was lucky he didn’t break my suspension. Watching the onboard you can see he takes the steering out of my hands, I don’t like to overtake like that, and obviously I don’t like to be overtaken, but if there’s no further action this sets a precedent for the future.”
Björk accepted his penalty but also believed it was a fair move. “I thought it was a touring car pass, it was fine. I didn’t hit him from the back, he closed to the door, but I was already committed. I think Esteban would do the same, and in fact he did the same in Vallelunga and got a penalty for it, so it’s probably fair; but I would do it again, that’s how we overtake.”
Björk was able to build enough of a gap to Guerrieri to remain ahead and be classified eighth, only losing the one spot back to team-mate Ma Qing Hua.
Picture: WSC/Fastclick
