Hugo Valente was left frustrated after the second TCR International Series race at Spa-Francorchamps at the weekend, after he was removed from the race at the first corner by Jens-Reno Møller.
Having started on the back row of the grid after a difficult qualifying session, Valente was then taken out at the first corner by Dane Møller, who missed his braking point and speared into the back corner of Valente’s SEAT at La Source.
The result was a point-less weekend for Valente, who had on Friday only managed 15th place in the opening race of the weekend in Belgium.
“I had a great start in race two, taking five positions up to the first corner and then I got hit,” explained a frustrated Valente. “I strongly believe we could have scored a point or at least get close to it.
“It’s just a shame that things like this happen; qualified drivers are welcome to our championship for sure, but when you’re three seconds off the pace all weekend and totally miss your braking point to then hit drivers that are fighting hard for points all season long it is just a bit frustrating.”
Together with team-mates James Nash and Pepe Oriola, Valente struggled for pace throughout the weekend, and Craft-Bamboo Racing CEO Richard Coleman believes that the lack of pace was down to the tyre regulations, and new entries into the championship getting more fresh rubber.
“It was clearly a very tough weekend for the team and I think we paid the price for not being here last weekend for the TCR Benelux round,” said Coleman. “Also, the way the tyre regulations worked for the new entries – of which there were many – were not in our favour.
“We had a good opportunity to score some very good points and to be on the podium, but to have two cars taken out at the first corner put an end to that.
“We really needed to score those points today on a bad weekend, so all in all it was very disappointing but I know that our team and drivers will bounce back next weekend in Monza.”
Valente leaves Spa-Francorchamps eighth overall in the drivers’ championship on 38 points