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2012 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal
The 2012 FIA WTCC Race of Portugal was the seventh round of the 2012 World Touring Car Championship season and the sixth running of the FIA WTCC Race of Portugal. It was held on 3 June 2012 at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve in Portimão, Portugal. The first race was won by Yvan Muller for Chevrolet and the second race was won by Alain Menu, also for Chevrolet.
Background
Coming into the event, Yvan Muller was the championship leader on 206 points ahead of Robert Huff on 198 and Menu on 175 points. Pepe Oriola was leading the Yokohama Independents' Trophy.
James Thompson and TMS Sport made their last scheduled appearance of the season with the Lada Granta WTCC. Tom Boardman switched to the new SEAT turbocharged engine, having run the TDi engine since Spain.
For the Race of Portugal weekend, Menu would be playing the role of comic book character Michel Vaillant. His Chevrolet Cruze raced in special Vaillante colours and Menu himself wore a special race suit and dyed his hair to look like the French comic book racer.
Report
Free Practice
Lukoil Racing Team's Gabriele Tarquini set the pace in the first free practice session, nearly half a second ahead of the Chevrolet of Yvan Muller. Thompson put the TMS Sport Lada in 10th.
It was a Chevrolet 1-2-3 in the second practice session, with Yvan Muller topping the timing pages ahead of Menu and Huff.
Qualifying
Tarquini took his second pole position of the season with Yvan Muller second for Chevrolet and Norbert Michelisz third for Zengő Motorsport. The race two reversed grid would see Tuenti Racing Team's Pepe Oriola starting on position with Menu starting second. The session was stopped early on when Tom Chilton suffered a suspension failure, he and his team mate James Nash would form an all Ford back row.
Warm-Up
Muller went fastest in Sunday morning's warm-up session ahead of Chevrolet team mates of Huff and Menu.
Race One
Muller overtook Tarquini on the outside into turn one to take the lead, while further down the field, Aleksei Dudukalo and Gábor Wéber made contact and ended up in the gravel. Both drivers were able to get back on track and return to the pits. Muller held on to take the win ahead of Tarquini and Huff, with Michelisz the winning independent after coming home in fourth. Menu had climbed up to fifth position while the only remaining non-SEAT engined León of Tiago Monteiro spent much of the race defending his seventh place.
Race Two
A near repeat of race one saw the Chevrolet of Menu overtake pole sitter Oriola before the first corner. Further back, Mehdi Bennani made contact with Stefano D'Aste which earned him a suspended grid penalty. Tarquini had been defending from the Chevrolets of Muller and Huff when he took too much kerb, allowing Muller through. Huff and Tarquini made contact, spinning the Italian out of the race while Muller spun at his own accord. ROAL Motorsport's Alberto Cerqui took advantage of Muller's off to take fifth, a position that was later switched on the main straight. Menu took the victory ahead of podium debutant Oriola with Tom Coronel third.
Results
Qualifying
| Pos. | No. | Name | Team | Car | C | Q1 | Q2 | Points | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | ITA Gabriele Tarquini | Lukoil Racing | SEAT León WTCC | 1:54.809 | 1:53.966 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | FRA Yvan Muller | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 1:54.982 | 1:54.232 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | HUN Norbert Michelisz | Zengő Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:55.242 | 1:54.598 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GBR Robert Huff | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 1:54.985 | 1:54.932 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | NLD Tom Coronel | ROAL Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | 1:55.430 | 1:54.982 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | ITA Alberto Cerqui | ROAL Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:55.413 | 1:55.036 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | HUN Gábor Wéber | Zengő Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:55.740 | 1:55.087 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | PRT Tiago Monteiro | Tuenti Racing | SR León 1.6T | 1:55.471 | 1:55.088 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | CHE Alain Menu | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 1:55.163 | 1:55.114 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 74 | ESP Pepe Oriola | Tuenti Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 1:55.380 | 1:55.323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | MAR Mehdi Bennani | Proteam Racing | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:55.607 | 1:55.488 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | RUS Aleksei Dudukalo | Lukoil Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 1:55.703 | 1:55.618 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | DEU Franz Engstler | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:55.811 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | CHN Darryl O'Young | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 1:55.842 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | GBR Alex MacDowall | bamboo-engineering | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | Y | 1:55.891 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | ITA Stefano D'Aste | Wiechers-Sport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:55.892 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | GBR James Thompson | TMS Sport | Lada Granta WTCC | 1:55.926 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | HKG Charles Ng | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | BMW 320 TC | Y | 1:56.080 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | GBR Tom Boardman | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 1:56.260 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | ITA Pasquale Di Sabatino | bamboo-engineering | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | Y | 1:56.499 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | GBR James Nash | Team Aon | Ford Focus S2000 TC | 1:56.554 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | GBR Tom Chilton | Team Aon | Ford Focus S2000 TC | 1:57.117 |
- Bold denotes Pole position for second race.
Race 1
| Pos. | No. | Name | Team | Car | C | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Ret | Ret | Ret | Ret |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FRA Yvan Muller | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 11 | 21:20.620 | 2 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | ITA Gabriele Tarquini | Lukoil Racing | SEAT León WTCC | 11 | +0.336 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GBR Robert Huff | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 11 | +0.951 | 4 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | HUN Norbert Michelisz | Zengő Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +6.699 | 3 | 12 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | CHE Alain Menu | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 11 | +13.669 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | NLD Tom Coronel | ROAL Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | 11 | +17.053 | 5 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | PRT Tiago Monteiro | Tuenti Racing | SR León 1.6T | 11 | +20.172 | 8 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | ITA Alberto Cerqui | ROAL Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +20.422 | 6 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 74 | ESP Pepe Oriola | Tuenti Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 11 | +21.134 | 10 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | GBR Alex MacDowall | bamboo-engineering | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | Y | 11 | +21.723 | 15 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | ITA Stefano D'Aste | Wiechers-Sport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +22.453 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | DEU Franz Engstler | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +26.142 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | CHN Darryl O'Young | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 11 | +29.066 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | GBR Tom Boardman | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 11 | +29.813 | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | ITA Pasquale Di Sabatino | bamboo-engineering | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | Y | 11 | +34.752 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | GBR Tom Chilton | Team Aon | Ford Focus S2000 TC | 11 | +42.163 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | GBR James Thompson | TMS Sport | Lada Granta WTCC | 10 | +1 Lap | 17 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | HKG Charles Ng | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | BMW 320 TC | Y | 9 | +2 Laps | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | GBR James Nash | Team Aon | Ford Focus S2000 TC | 7 | Collision | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | MAR Mehdi Bennani | Proteam Racing | BMW 320 TC | Y | 7 | Collision | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | HUN Gábor Wéber | Zengő Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 4 | Collision | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | RUS Aleksei Dudukalo | Lukoil Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 2 | Collision | 12 |
- Bold denotes Fastest lap.
Race 2
| Pos. | No. | Name | Team | Car | C | Laps | Time/Retired | Grid | Points | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Ret | Ret | Ret |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | FRA Michel Vaillant (Alain Menu) | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 11 | 21:34.180 | 2 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 74 | ESP Pepe Oriola | Tuenti Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 11 | +3.200 | 1 | 18 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | NLD Tom Coronel | ROAL Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | 11 | +5.160 | 6 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | GBR Robert Huff | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 11 | +6.961 | 7 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | FRA Yvan Muller | Chevrolet | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | 11 | +8.280 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | ITA Alberto Cerqui | ROAL Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +8.626 | 5 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | GBR Alex MacDowall | bamboo-engineering | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | Y | 11 | +15.007 | 15 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | PRT Tiago Monteiro | Tuenti Racing | SR León 1.6T | 11 | +15.874 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | DEU Franz Engstler | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +16.264 | 13 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | HUN Norbert Michelisz | Zengő Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +18.128 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 69 | GBR James Thompson | TMS Sport | Lada Granta WTCC | 11 | +19.832 | 21 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | HUN Gábor Wéber | Zengő Motorsport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +23.542 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20 | CHN Darryl O'Young | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 11 | +28.326 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | HKG Charles Ng | Liqui Moly Team Engstler | BMW 320 TC | Y | 11 | +28.581 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 23 | GBR Tom Chilton | Team Aon | Ford Focus S2000 TC | 11 | +30.552 | 20 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 | RUS Aleksei Dudukalo | Lukoil Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 11 | +50.602 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12 | ITA Pasquale Di Sabatino | bamboo-engineering | Chevrolet Cruze 1.6T | Y | 10 | +1 Lap | 19 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | ITA Stefano D'Aste | Wiechers-Sport | BMW 320 TC | Y | 10 | +1 Lap | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | ITA Gabriele Tarquini | Lukoil Racing | SEAT León WTCC | 8 | +3 Laps | 10 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | GBR James Nash | Team Aon | Ford Focus S2000 TC | 7 | Set Up | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | MAR Mehdi Bennani | Proteam Racing | BMW 320 TC | Y | 3 | Collision | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 22 | GBR Tom Boardman | Special Tuning Racing | SEAT León WTCC | Y | 2 | Collision | 18 |
- Bold denotes Fastest lap.
Standings after the round
;Drivers' Championship standings
| Pos | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 1 | FRA Yvan Muller |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 2 | GBR Robert Huff |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 3 | CHE Alain Menu |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 4 | NLD Tom Coronel |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 5 | ITA Gabriele Tarquini |
;Yokohama Independents' Trophy standings
| Pos | Driver | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 1 | ESP Pepe Oriola |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 2 | HUN Norbert Michelisz |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 3 | ITA Stefano D'Aste |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 4 | DEU Franz Engstler |
| [[File:1uparrow green.svg | 10px]] 1 | 5 | GBR Alex MacDowall |
;Manufacturers' Championship standings
| Pos | Manufacturer | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 1 | USA Chevrolet |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 2 | DEU BMW Customer Racing Teams |
| [[File:1rightarrow blue.svg | 10px]] | 3 | ESP SEAT Racing Technology |
- Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of drivers' standings.
References
References
- (27 May 2012). "NEW ENGINE FOR TOM BOARDMAN". WTCC FIA World Touring Car Championship.
- Abbott, Andrew. (28 May 2012). "Menu gets comic role for Portugal".
- Hudson, Neil. (3 June 2012). "Gabriele Tarquini fastest in Portimão FP1".
- Hudson, Neil. (3 June 2012). "Yvan Muller fastest in second free practice at Portimão".
- Mills, Peter. (2 June 2012). "Tarquini claims second WTCC pole of 2012 at Algarve". Haymarket Media.
- Hudson, Neil. (3 June 2012). "Yvan Muller fastest in Portugal warm up".
- Abbott, Andrew. (3 June 2012). "Muller beats Tarquini to race one win".
- Hudson, Neil. (3 June 2012). "Mehdi Bennani given suspended penalty for D'Aste incident".
- Abbott, Andrew. (3 June 2012). "Menu wins race two as 'Vaillant'".
- "2012 World Touring Car Championship Race of Portugal: Qualifying 1".
- "2012 World Touring Car Championship Race of Portugal: Qualifying 2".
- "2012 World Touring Car Championship Race of Portugal: Race 1".
- "2012 World Touring Car Championship Race of Portugal: Race 2".
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