Münnich Motorsport’s Esteban Guerrieri says he is ‘felling good’ ahead of the first Asian event of the FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) season, with the Honda driver targeting a repeat of his 2017 win at Ningbo.
Guerrieri heads into the event eighth overall in the drivers’ standings, 68 points from the top of the championship table after scoring one win so far, with 11 races still to go.
But the Argentine is confident going into the first of two Chinese race weekends at the Ningbo International Speedpark, after he took victory in the first WTCC race at the circuit last year when he was still racing for Campos Racing.
“I won the first race at Ningbo in 2017 but it was quite crazy in the wet conditions with a new track that we didn’t know what to expect from,” said Guerrieri. “Qualifying was quite intense with a wet track and I remember we had to sort the tyre pressures and that it was very important to have a spot-on set-up for the race.
“It’s a very technical track and in 2017 it was new asphalt so no grip and that meant it was difficult to find the limits. Because you have a lot of corners that are connected one after the other, if the car is washing away at the front it’s difficult to point it in the direction you want to go so you need a good front end.
“There are a lot of corners at this track so hopefully Honda can be strong and the races should be fun because are a few places where you can overtake.”
Guerrieri has been busy despite the two-and-a-half month break in the WTCR schedule since the last round in Slovakia, having been involved in Honda and JAS Motorsport’s GT programme with the new NSX GT3 in the Spa 24 Hours and the GT Open series.
“It’s been a very big summer break, but I’ve kept busy racing the Honda NSX GT3 and getting some more experience in long-distance racing, so I feel good as we approach the Asian rounds of the WTCR.
“My aim for the rest of the season is to win as many races as I can and help Münnich to try and win the Teams’ Championship.”