The FIA World Touring Car Championship weekend at the world’s most challenging circuit, the Nürburgring Nordschleife, turned out to be the best ever for Polestar Cyan Racing with a double victory, double championship lead and a new lap record.
The Björk won the first race with team-mate Nicky Catsburg taking the honours of the second race, claiming the drivers’ championship lead.
“It was a fantastic race. The car was perfectly set up for the second race and I managed to pull up a gap that enabled me to take control. This is my favourite circuit and to win here is a true highlight of my career. We are comfortably leading the championship now which is our goal and we need to keep it for the rest of the season,” said Catsburg.
Four-time STCC champion The Björk fought his way from sixth on the grid to win the first race, elevating him to the third position in the championship, just eight points from the points lead.
“I had a really good start and went from sixth to third before the first corner. I had a great race, was able to utilise the slipstream and score one of my best victories. I am very proud to add the Nürburgring to my list of victories after winning at Monza earlier this year,” said Björk.
Disaster struck once again for Néstor Girolami who suffered a puncture at well over 200 km/h in the first race while in second place, which resulted in his car being rendered undrivable after slamming violently into the barriers. The Argentinian escaped unhurt from the incident but the damage to his car forced him out of both races due to limited repair time.
“I had a puncture on a very fast part of the track, there was nothing I could do. We need to forget this bad luck and go for the next race in Portugal with new energy. Big congratulations to Nicky leading the championship and The being third, I am very happy for them,” said Girolami.
Polestar Cyan Racing has extended the lead over championship rivals Honda to 40 points, following the success in the WTCC Race of Germany weekend as the season closes in on the half-way mark.
The weekend was crowned with race-winner Nicky Catsburg recording the fastest ever lap time of a WTCC race car around the 25 km combined Nürburgring Nordschleife and GP circuit during official practice (8:34.813), the day after announcing the record lap of the Volvo S60 PCP3 road car.
“We can’t be anything but very pleased with this weekend. We have put down a lot of hours on this circuit, both for our race and road cars. To be able to capitalise on that is nothing but amazing. Nicky, The, Néstor and everyone in the team has done a great job and we look forward to continuing our fight for the World Title,” said Alexander Murdzevski Schedvin, Head of Motorsport at Polestar.
The next FIA WTCC race weekend takes place in at Vila Real in Portugal on 24-25 June.
WTCC Race of Germany
Circuit: Nürburgring Nordschleife + GP circuit
Length: 25.378 km
Lap record (WTCC): 8:40.688 (López)
Results
Race 1 – Top 5
1 Thed Björk Volvo S60 3 laps
2 Mehdi Bennani Citroën C-Elysée +2.538
3 Rob Huff Citroën C-Elysée +3.096
4 Tom Chilton Citroën C-Elysée +3.732
5 Esteban Guerrieri Chevrolet Cruze +8.487
…
6 Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 +8.910
DNF Néstor Girolami Volvo S60
Race 2 – Top 5
1 Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 3 laps
2 Norbert Michelisz Honda Civic +3.065
3 Rob Huff Citroën C-Elysée +3.401
4 Thed Björk Volvo S60 +4.167
5 Tom Chilton Citroën C-Elysée +5.763
…
DNS Néstor Girolami Volvo S60
Championship Standings
Drivers – Top 5
1 Nicky Catsburg Volvo S60 127 pts
2 Tiago Monteiro Honda Civic 125 (-2)
3 Thed Björk Volvo S60 119 (-8)
4 Tom Chilton Citroën C-Elysée 106 (-21)
5 Rob Huff Citroën C-Elysée 102 (-25)
…
9 Néstor Girolami Volvo S60 52 (-75)
Manufacturers
1 Volvo 404 pts
2 Honda 364 (-40)