Norbert Michelisz

Norbert Michelisz and the MOL Group Zengő Motorsport team leave Japan with mixed feelings. The Hungarian outfit claimed their fifth podium result of the 2015 FIA WTCC season in race one at Motegi but were denied more points in the second race after an on-track incident that saw Norbert drop out of the top 10.

In race 1, Norbert managed a good start from pole position but was beaten to the first corner by reigning World Champion José María López in the all-dominating Citroën C-Elysée and had to settle for second place. However, the No. 5 Honda Civic WTCC driver showed good speed and determination to keep former World Champion Gabriele Tarquini at bay to finish second behind López, claiming his fifth podium result of the 2015 FIA WTCC season.

“I expected a better start than what I had”, Norbert says. “In the end it was not too bad but I think Pechito was just fantastic. We had the same momentum but after 50 or 60 meters he was just in front of me. I hoped to have a better race pace but he was not doing any mistakes and was really fast. So there was not much I could do to prevent him from winning.”

Race 2 was always going to be more difficult for Norbert and his team with the Hungarian driver having to start from tenth due to the reversed starting grid. However, things did not work out well for him as he found himself in traffic and even made contact with one of his opponents. Norbert fought back bravely, though, and was already up to seventh position and on his way to score more points when he experienced technical problems which forced him to pit. Eventually, he rejoined the race and was classified in 14th, two laps down on race winner Tiago Monteiro.

“I had an average start”, Norbert says. “There were a lot of cars around me and I saw there was some movement in front that I tried to avoid. I went wide on the outside and I think Mehdi Bennani was on the outside, too, and we collided. That cost me several positions. I tried to come back and was seventh at one moment but then I had a problem with the engine and had to come back to the pits. That was it, unfortunately.”

Source: zengomotorsport.hu