Fabrizio Giovanardi rues missed podium in Slovakia

Fabrizio Giovanardi finished the third race at the Slovakiaring in sixth position, his second points finish of the weekend after a tough start to the season. The Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCRs showed improved pace during the weekend, in particular during the races, however the Team Mulsanne driver feels he could have gone as far as scoring a podium, but contact prevented him from giving the Giulietta its first WTCR top-three finish.

“I am happy with the outcome, but it could have been even better, and that’s a shame,” said Giovanardi to TouringCarTimes. “I had a good start and then I saw the carnage ahead and around me, so I braked and turned in tight. I found myself in fifth and I knew we stood a good chance there.”

Damage in the second race of the weekend meant the repair time was not enough for the team to fix the car as they would have liked to. A contact with YMR’s Thed Björk only made matters worse.

“Despite the incredible work done by the team the car was not perfect, but I was still able to catch Vervisch and keep Björk behind me. The Hyundai hit me and bent my exhaust, so after that I was struggling a bit on the straight.”

As the i30 N TCR went by the Italian, wild card Petr Fulín in a Cupra TCR attacked Giovanardi and the pair made contact, which left the Italian upset.

“I’m not impressed at all with Fulín’s move. I feel it was unnecessary and he could have done it differently, there was no need to hit me. I settled for sixth, which is another points finish after the first race. The team did an incredible job and obviously the car is now much more competitive in the races.”

The team will now focus on qualifying pace, as the Giulietta has found good pace during the races.

“We still need to find some extra performance in qualifying, I think this weekend proves that a good starting position allows us to mix it up with the big manufacturers. We will keep working hard ahead of the flyaways, we’re almost there and everyone in the team is excited.”