WTCR Race of Portugal Race 1 press conference 03.07.2022: WTCR Race of Portugal, Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, July 1-3, 2022 WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 9 and 10 of 20 Teatro Municipal de Vila Real, July 3, 2022

WTCR Race of Portugal, Circuito Internacional de Vila Real, July 1-3, 2022
WTCR − FIA World Touring Car Cup, Rounds 9 and 10 of 20
Teatro Municipal de Vila Real, July 3, 2022



In attendance:

Santiago Urrutia (Cyan Performance Lynk & Co), pole position, Race 1
Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), second position, Race 1
Néstor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport), third position, Race 1
Tiago Monteiro (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler)





Santi, talk us through the strategy before the race from your perspective.




Santiago Urrutia (Cyan Performance Lynk & Co), pole position, Race 1

I think the strategy worked out very well. We started P1 and P2. We had a clean start, we kept the positions and then we ended up finishing the race in P1 and P2, so it was the biggest points for the team. The strategy as I said worked out very well, so thank you to Yann and Cyan.


It was good points in the bag. Yesterday we collected the biggest in qualifying, being P1 and P2, and now P1 and P2 in the race. So I’m very happy for the team because we did it in the right way.




In the right way for who?




Santiago Urrutia (Cyan Performance Lynk & Co), pole position, Race 1

In the right way for Cyan Racing. We were on the race, we were in pole position yesterday.



But the strategy doesn’t seem to make sense…




Santiago Urrutia (Cyan Performance Lynk & Co), pole position, Race 1

You need to ask Cyan this. I don’t see a problem. We were P1 and P2 in qualifying, P1 and P2 in the race, so I don’t see any problem with this.




We guess from an outsider’s perspective it seemed Yann won on merit.




Santiago Urrutia (Cyan Performance Lynk & Co), pole position, Race 1

You know the WTCR for so many years, you have been involved for so many years, so don’t look only at this race.





Well, let’s ask your team-mate because he doesn’t seem to agree with you.



Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), second position, Race 1


What is the question?





When we asked you after the race, it didn’t seem like you were aware of the team strategy before the race started, so there is not unity in the decision making.


Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), second position, Race 1


For sure, the thing was to put Cyan in P1 and P2. That’s what we’ve done from yesterday on and on to today. Again at some point it’s the way it is. I cannot comment much more than this. I hope that was the right call for the rest of the season and that it will pay off in the end.


My interest here, and what I’m contracted by Cyan, is to make one of those teams driving Lynk & Cos win the championship at the end of the year. For sure it’s painful, I will not hide it. It’s the way it is. At the end we are P1 and P2. The order is something to discuss, but the interests of Cyan was the priority today and I think we did it.




And how frustrating is it for you two as a partnership, as friends?


Yann Ehrlacher (Cyan Racing Lynk & Co), second position, Race 1


We are here to work, that’s it. We are doing our job and we did it well today. I have nothing to reproach to myself, I have jumped from A to Z perfectly this weekend. I’m just happy we scored good points for both teams and I will keep doing like this to help whoever it is, to make one Cyan team champion at the end of the year.



We know it is really difficult and getting harder and harder. I will do my best to help and do as much as possible to score as many points every time.






Bebu, what a brilliant podium after a fantastic qualifying lap yesterday. A good, clean race.




Néstor Girolami (ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport), third position, Race 1

Yes, first of all let me congratulate Santi and Yann for the podiums, also Tiago for his home race. But in our case it was a fantastic result. It was a little bit unrealistic yesterday thinking about a podium after FP2 but now with the work we did in qualifying I think we have to be proud.


Today we also make it work somehow in the race, making a gap in the second lap with Ma who was behind me. He did it first so I had to protect, but it worked and we continued pushing until the end. There was also Norbi pushing behind me, I thought I could not do any mistake.



 It’s difficult to pass, but the smallest concentration here it will be the end of the race. So I’m extremely happy, thank you for all the work the team did and also for Honda Racing that is pushing a lot, so I would like to thank them for the fantastic job.





Tiago, a shame not to have you on the podium, but a clean race nevertheless?



Tiago Monteiro (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler)

Ah, well you didn’t see the same race then. Definitely a shame, it’s not the same not being on the podium here, I won’t hide that. Having said that, when I went on to the track this morning for the out lap and seeing that craziness I had a big smile on my face.


Of course I wasn’t happy to be P13 but that’s the way racing goes. But it really gave me so much motivation to see so many people cheering like if I was first. It was really good, really nice, and then after that the race was going well until the middle of the race when there were some scraps at the front and a few contacts, small contacts.


Then my splitter went off and after that it was really hard to maintain the car on the track on the fast corners, a lot of vibrations, losing a lot of speed. So I tried to survive and just to finish, almost like a gladiator. I touched the wall two times understeering. But I wanted to give a good show until the end and to be there for them. Then on the in lap everybody was cheering again.



I was really upset and frustrated, but again when I saw that at the end you feel good. That’s why we race, that’s why we push hard and fight to make a good show to the fans to enjoy.





It still looks like there’s some potential for some rain. How much difference could that make?


Tiago Monteiro (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler)

A big difference, especially because I don’t think we ever tested here in the wet weather, practice or race. So it will be new for everybody, it will be a gamble to know what is the best set-up and where is the grip. So it will be interesting. I won’t hide the fact that I would like that.




QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR/ONLINE:

Q: António Rodrigues, LUSA (PRT)
Where did you get the damage and were you satisfied with your Joker Lap strategy?



Tiago Monteiro (LIQUI MOLY Team Engstler)

There was a few scraps in front of me: Magnus, Azcona, Björk, Attila. When they were fighting I tried to go on the inside, one of them crossed and actually touched my splitter. So that’s when it broke. And the Joker Lap. The timing was actually quite OK.


There was a group in front, I was catching them. One lap and I would have been a little bit stuck. I think the timing was perfect so I had a gap enough behind me. The decision was the right timing.







Richard Rodgers, photos WTCR