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Pepe Oriola declares that ‘the championship is over for me’

Craft-Bamboo Racing’s Pepe Oriola has said that his championship campaign is ‘over’ after scoring no points in the second TCR International Series race in Malaysia, following contact from a rival.

Oriola has now failed to score in the last four consecutive ‘second races’ of the TCR rounds in Russia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, resulting in the Spaniard dropping to third overall in the standings and 33 points behind team-mate Nash.

It is in marked contrast to 2015, when the young Spaniard went into the season finale on the streets of Macau just two points behind eventual champion Stefano Comini.

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“Unfortunately, the championship is over for me,” said Oriola. “Well, not completely, but something big must happen in Macau to get me the title.

“I am still happy with the teams’ championship, as this was one of our goals for the year. I’m happy for the team and let’s hope we can get some wins and end the season in a good way.”

Oriola later revealed that he did not know that Comini had been handed a drive-through penalty for knocking Tin Sritrai out of the race, and that if he had known he would not have tried so hard to pass Mat’o Homola on the last lap, which resulted in contacted between the pair.

“I had to work a lot to get close to the front positions after starting so far back. I gave everything and took risks on the last lap, not knowing that Comini had been penalised. If not, I would have been more conservative.

Oriola also admitted that he is willing to help Nash secure the title in Macau, having lost so much ground in recent races.

“Although the title is complicated, I will work for the team in the last two races of the year so that James Nash can be the next TCR International Series champion.

“Now fighting for the title is difficult, but I’ll work in the last two races to ensure that James Nash and Craft Bamboo Lukoil are the TCR champions”.

 

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