Pepe Oriola is looking to sign off the 2013 World Touring Car Championship with a strong result around the streets of Macau, the home race for one of his main sponsors, Cali Macau.
Having narrowly missed out on a top three finish last time out at Shanghai, in the changeable conditions, the Spanish youngster is looking to respond to that disappointment in the final races of the season.
Despite having to carry the 40kgs of compensation ballast on board the #74 Tuenti Racing Team Chevrolet Cruze, Oriola is hopeful for a good result at a track he enjoys.
Oriola arrives in Macau ninth overall with 146 points to his name, one point behind Tom Coronel who currently holds eighth in the Championship.
“We want to finish in Macau the work we’ve been doing since June with the Chevrolet Cruze, and get a result on the podium that got away in Shanghai because of the changing conditions,” Oriola said.
“Also, this is the home of ‘Cali Macau’, one of my main sponsors, who have supported us tremendously, so I want to get a good result for them.”
“Macau is a track I like and where I have always felt comfortable because it is fast and presents a challenge for the drivers. But it is also one of the most dangerous, and track barriers are very unforgiving, so you also need to be careful around here.”
The team has already encountered one issue between Shanghai and Macau – Typhoon Haiyan almost ruled the team out of the weekend as the mechanics were stuck in the Philippines – but the whole team is in Macau safely and ready for the weekend.