Opening WTCR race in Vila Real stopped after first lap pile-up

The opening FIA World Touring Car Cup (WTCR) race on the streets of Vila Real has been red-flagged after a huge first lap pile-up which was triggered when Sébastien Loeb Racing team-mates Rob Huff and Mehdi Bennani came together.

Huff started the race on pole position but Bennani got a slightly better start to draw alongside, but the duo made contact at Turn 3, with Bennani clipping the left-rear wheel of Huff’s Volkswagen.

That pitched Huff into the barriers on the outside of the circuit, whilst Bennani’s car launched into the air.

The chasing pack had nowhere to turn and almost every other car was caught up in the melee, with third-placed Norbert Michelisz limping back to the pits for repairs as the rest of the cars blocked the circuit.

Several cars briefly caught fire in the carnage, including the Volkswagen of Huff and the Hyundai of YMR’s Thed Björk.

A huge hole was created in the retaining Armco barrier on the circuit, requiring a lengthy stoppage for repairs.

“It was a very, very big hit,” said Björk, who piled into the accident from fourth. “I don’t know what started it, but Bennani and Huff went into the barrier. I came up there, I was just behind them, and I think it was Huff that landed on my car. It’s crazy – it was such a big impact.

“The safety of the cars is fantastic – I have not a scratch on me. I think the others are OK. It was a big shock for Bennani and Huff. I hope they are OK. Bennani is a little bit hurt. Mehdi is the one that had the hardest impact. They were in big shock.

“I put the fire extinguisher on directly, and then I was locked in the car, but I managed to kick the windows out. That was quite scary but it was good that I got out.”

Münnich Motorsport’s James Thompson was visibly shaken by the magnitude of the accident: “I think the first two guys came together at the narrowing at the top there and then they just blocked the track, and everybody just concertinaed into each other.

“The problem was one of the cars had a big accident into the back of Yann, and the car is totally destroyed, and the thing that worried me was one of the cars in front of me was on fire, and I tried to get out…”

Tom Coronel was critical of the way that the leading duo fought through the high-speed third turn resulting in the crash which involved the field.

“You saw that the two Volkswagens didn’t respect each other here in the high-speed right-hander and he went up in the air. The guard rail is completely gone – I mean gone, so big damage.

“Mehdi was in bad shape – he didn’t even know what he was doing. I talked to him as he was being taken off to hospital. He was grabbing here, so I think his ribs are broken by the impact, but no blood.

“He grabbed me by my face and said ‘hey Tom I have to race’ but I said ‘no, you cannot race, it’s impossible’ so he’s in complete shock. Rob was just sitting on the side – he was white and he felt it a little bit in the stomach. Ehrlacher came out of the back of the car because the car was completely stuck, so we got him out.

“The Hungarian guy in the green SEAT [Zsabó] was completely blocked and couldn’t get out of the car because everybody was packed in. I think I was lucky – I just chose a middle part and the only damage is on my front bumper.

“For Rob Huff’s car – the engine was out – there was nothing left of the car. Nothing. I have never seen this in my life. It was a type of crash like you saw with Martin Brundle in Australia [in F1 in 1996] – it looked horrible over there.

“All of the drivers were in a little bit of panic. We are all a big family, but there are a few in a bad shape.

“They can never restart the race. The guard rail is gone. We would be lucky if we drive before it’s dark. The three plates, the posts on the guard rail is gone.”

Due to the extensive barrier repairs required the scheduled restart time for the race is 18:30 BST (19:30 CEST).