Photo: WTCR

Yann Ehrlacher delighted to prove himself with Hungary showing

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Yann Ehrlacher followed up with his strong performance in Morocco earlier this month with a startling performance in Hungary, winning Race 1 and finishing fourth in Race 3 to head to the next round as championship leader Gabriele Tarquini’s closest rival in the standings, and also clear of uncle and four-time champion Yvan Muller.

Ehrlacher made a calculated move down the inside into Turn 2 in Race 1 as the two BRC Hyundais of Gabriele Tarquini and Norbert Michelisz, and Ehrlacher’s own Münnich Honda team-mate came to blows, allowing the 21-year-old Frenchman to snatch the lead and romp to victory.

A misfire in Race 2 meant a DNF, while a steady run to fourth meant he finished the weekend with a strong points’ haul, lifting him up to second in the standings.

“I’m a little far away from Gabi, and only five points from Yvan, but it’s a good place to be,” said Ehrlacher to TouringCarTimes.

“This weekend was an important one. Everyone was happy about my pace in Morocco, but I didn’t want it to look like it was just a one-off, so I had to prove this weekend, and Race 1 we won, so I think that was good proof.

“We had the pace to be second (on Sunday) in qualifying, but I made a mistake on my fastest lap, and in Race 2 we had an engine issue and had to stop as it was misfiring.

“In Race 3, I started P4 and finished P4 behind Yvan, as I had to back off for the engine temperature and it was too risky to try and overtake him.”

Ehrlacher also picked up the trophy for setting the fastest lap of the weekend in the races, and with the Hondas proving to be quick in race pace, when compensation weight kicks in at the Nürburgring, the Honda Civics aren’t expected to lose too much weight compared to the Hyundais.