Zengő Motorsport’s Norbert Michelisz could miss the next round of the World Touring Car Championship in Argentina after sustaining significant damage to his Honda Civic in race one in Portugal.
Michelisz was running in sixth in the opening race of the day on the streets of Porto when the Hungarian ran wide at the fast right-hander on the Avenida do Parque, sliding sideways into the wall and damaging the right-hand side of his car.
Upon closer inspection his team found that the rear axle had broken in two and also suffered engine damage. Consequently Michelisz did not take the start of race two – the first time he has failed to start a race he has been entered into.
With the WTCC having organised a container ship to transport the teams equipment to the overseas events which form the second half of the calendar, Zengő face a race against time to have the car repaired in order to board the ship.
The team have been offered further support from JAS Motorsport with the repair and supply of spares for their Independent Honda Civic during the flyaway races.
The incident comes after several teams in the WTCC paddock have questioned the decision to race on a street circuit immediately before packing up to go on the five-month, inter-continental overseas tour.