19.9.2005
Alain Menu with strong race in Istanbul

Rounds 15 and 16 of the 2005 World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) took place at the brand new Istanbul Park Otodrom racetrack last weekend.

Nicola Larini was the fastest Chevrolet driver in Saturday’s qualifying session, ranking 12th. Alain Menu finished the qualifying as 14th. Rob Huff was less fortunate: A ring gear failure kept his car in the garage. Huff was allowed to start from the back of the grid on the basis that he had done enough laps in free practice.

In the two races on Sunday, Alain Menu showed a strong performance: he moved up from 15th on the grid to 10th at the finish of the first race. In the second race, he passed reigning champion Andy Priaulx in the second to last lap of the race, climbing to the 8th position and making it the 4th point-scoring weekend in a row.

Rob Huff was hoping to benefit from the fact that he would be able to start both races on new tyres due to his technical problems in the qualifying. At the start of the first race, he moved up to 15th position. Unfortunately, he got bumped and came in 17th. Huff ranked 13th in the second race.

Nicola Larini, who had been the best Chevrolet driver in the qualifying, was very unlucky: In both races, he got bumped and had to retire.

Rounds 17 and 18 of the WTCC are scheduled to take place in Valencia, Spain, on October 2.