With the 2017 TCR International Series season set to take an extended break before heading to Thailand in September, title hopeful Pepe Oriola is looking to make significant inroads on the top four, after difficulties stuck both defending champion Stefano Comini and current leader Attila Tassi during qualifying at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
“My main goal is to leave Germany in the fight for the title in the last few rounds,” said the Spaniard to TouringCars.net after qualifying, as he picked up a point for being fifth fastest around the 3.667-km circuit.
“Tomorrow we have to risk a bit, because we are not in the position to save [anything] but maybe my team-mate can help me a bit, as Rob Huff is helping Jean-Karl.”
Oriola opted to finish his Q2 efforts two minutes before the end of the 10-minute session, having admitted making a mistake in the final sector, which sees team mate Daniel Lloyd and Leopard Racing’s Rob Huff in his line of sight for tomorrow’s first race.
“But it’s like this. We knew that it was going to be close so we pushed really hard and I did a little mistake in sector three. For the championship it’s good because [Attila] Tassi is out of the reverse grid, and so I was really lucky to get into Q2, and he didn’t.
“Looking at race two, Homola, Colciago and Vernay are together and I’m in a good position because during both races I’m in the middle, so I can score maybe two podiums, so yeah it’s a positive qualifying.”
Despite the Balance of Performance changes introduced for this weekend, the 22-year-old was “surprised” about the pace that pole sitter Gianni Morbidelli had with his Golf GTi, stating that he feels that the VWs have a clear advantage.
“The car is exactly the same. They have 30 mm less of ride height and less weight. I don’t know why that is, but I guess the technical [department] will know better,” said the Craft Bamboo Lukoil driver, who is just 41 points off Tassi currently.
“But for me the feeling as a driver when I’m following them is that they have a little bit of an advantage this year with the new package they have. I’m happy with the team and happy with the set-up so we’ll have to see tomorrow.”