Norbert Michelisz will start the first FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) race from the back of the grid in Marrakech, after the BRC Racing Team opted to change the engine on his Hyundai.
Although Michelisz put in the second-fastest time in qualifying, the engine let go on his i30 N TCR half-way through the session when he was on top of the times, spelling the end of qualifying.
With the car having dumped oil on the circuit, the session was red-flagged, and when it resumed YMR’s Thed Björk snatched pole position away.
Things then got worse for Michelisz when his team made the call to change the engine on his car before the first race, earning him a grid penalty and the prospect of starting from 25th.
“I had the confidence from the first moment to push but then there was some smoke coming inside the car and I just couldn’t see anything so I tried to stop in the first safe place,” explained Michelisz.
“Honestly I don’t know in detail what the problem was. If you feel confident, if you feel you can be the fastest it’s very strange to miss out almost completely the second part of qualifying.”
Michelisz’s penalty promotes team-mate Gabriele Tarquini to second for the first race, which will be streamed live on Facebook at 17:00 BST (18:00 CEST).