Craft-Bamboo Racing head to the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve for the TCR International Series in Portugal this weekend hoping to repeat the success that they enjoyed in Spain last time out.
Having scored a pole position and race win with Pepe Oriola in Valencia’s first race, which included a podium lock-out with Sergey Afanasyev and Jordi Gené second and third, Craft-Bamboo are understandably optimistic for the Portuguese races.
After their 1-2-3 in race one in Valencia, the team were unable to repeat the success in race two. Gené was taken out in a start-line accident, whilst Oriola received a drive-through penalty for undertaking behind the safety car and could only finish fifth, with Afanasyev in ninth one lap down.
“After the team’s great performance in Valencia last weekend, everyone has done a great job of preparing the cars in such a short time period,” said Team CEO Richard Coleman. “We will be hoping to repeat last week’s success and I am confident in the team, the cars and the drivers’ abilities to deliver some more podiums.
“Our performance has been strong since the start of the season, but due to some unfortunate incidents out of our control, this has prevented us from maximizing championship points.”
Gené took his second podium of the season in Valencia, but as a result of his race two accident the Spaniard has dropped to sixth in the standings, 53 points adrift of leader Stefano Comini.
“After a disappointing end to the last race for me, I really want to get out on track and maximize the performance potential of the car,” said Gené. “I know that we are competitive and we have proven that we can get results. Hopefully this weekend I will have the chance to run a good race and take some more championship points.”
Oriola scored his first-ever podium in the World Touring Car Championship at the Algarve race track in 2012, and is hoping to carry momentum from his strong weekend in Spain into the event.
“To be back in Portimao it will be very exciting, because there I got my first podium in the WTCC,” said Oriola. “I am feeling really good after the victory in the first race of Valencia and I am very motivated to repeat it in Portugal.
“The car is very competitive and I hope that we will be able to demonstrate our potential once again on the track.”