Pepe Oriola will be forced to race in this weekend’s TCR International Series races in Thailand whilst nursing a foot injury, which the Craft-Bamboo Racing driver picked up whilst training.
Oriola, who is currently just one point behind championship leader Stefano Comini, injured his right foot in training, which has not helped him in the run up to the event in Buriram.
“I will do everything possible to get a positive result in Buriram,” said Oriola, who won race one and was on the podium for race two at the circuit in 2015. “Last year I was the fastest driver in this track.
“Now I have injured my foot by the fall of a weight while I was training for the Thai races. Despite [the fact that] I have received a medical discharge and I can accelerate, I am still feeling an intense pain in my foot.”
Oriola’s situation is similar to that of eventual 2015 champion Comini, who injured his knee in the run-up to the event last year.
Spaniard Oriola knows that in order to push for the title this year he must push through his injury to ensure top results in Thailand.
“The championship is very competitive but my goal is to score points in both races of Thailand to maintain my options for the title of the TCR, even with my injured foot.
“I hope that the bad luck that I have experienced over the last few rounds is over. I hope to achieve some good results in Thailand so I can retake the lead and get into a good position for the closing stages of the season.”