Race winner Tom Coronel admitted he “never expected” teammate Nicolas Baert to remain on the outside of the corner before the pair made contact in the opening TCR Europe race at Zandvoort.
Coronel and ComToYou Racing teammate Baert collided early on in the opening race of the weekend which forced the Belgian onto the gravel and as a result both drivers lost their positions to Dušan Borkovič.
The Dutch driver, who this weekend is competing in his home event, did however make a fine recovery drive throughout the remainder of the race and eventually took the win ahead of Brutal Fish Racing Team’s Jack Young.
“I think that was all right!” said Coronel after the race.
“At the start, I touched the limiter a little so I lost a little bit and Nico (Baert) was able to pass me. After that I was a few times alongside Nico but we respect each other and so I thought it was no problem.
“Finally I dived to one side and then the other and I never expected him to stay on the outside because it’s dirty there but I felt him next to me and we touched.
“Then I wanted to talk directly to the team on the radio but I hit the Full Course Yellow button instead and Borkovič passed me.
“Finally I passed Borkovič on the inside of the Tarzan corner and then I could see I was catching Young as he wasn’t consistent. When I was behind him, I dived to the inside and that worked.
Coronel also went on to explain that he and the ComToYou Racing team were delighted to take the victory and that the win has been something they have aimed for over the last few events.
“This is what we are here for,” added the Dutch driver.
“We know the consistency is there, we know the speed is there but it all has to come together and sometimes that’s a little bit difficult but finally we did it.”
Coronel is now 2nd in the Drivers Standings following his win in the opening race of the weekend behind series leader Mikel Azcona.