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Stories of the first WTCR year: Kristensen kicks things off

The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup presented by OSCARO began with a bang in Marrakech in early April 2018 when Circuit Moulay El Hassan served up the type of action-packed racing that would set the tone for the inaugural season.

But while 25 WTCR OSCARO racers were assembled in North Africa, it was nine-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Tom Kristensen who completed the first laps of the 2.971-kilometre track in one of the seven car types – an Audi RS 3 LMS – that would compete – and win – in season one.

The motorsport legend and Eurosport’s Motorsport Ambassador was in Morocco to help usher in international touring car racing’s exciting new era, and took temporary charge of Gordon Shedden’s Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team entry for a filming exercise.

“It’s on these types of narrow circuits with a lot of direction changes and bumpy parts that it’s incredibly agile, very responsive and also very good on the brakes,” said the Dane following his brief run. “To be one of the first to drive these cars on this track is cool and amazing and a nice experience.”

The WRT-run Audi Sport Leopard Lukoil Team would remain in the limelight in Marrakech when Shedden’s team-mate, Jean-Karl Vernay, won Race 2. However, with wins in the first and third races of the weekend it was Gabriele Tarquini who would take an early title lead for the Hyundai-powered BRC Racing Team.

Zdroj: fiawtcr.com