TCR: Kris Richard wants to take revenge
PUNISHED WINNER At the last race of the TCR Europe at Spa, Kris Richard experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. A steward subsequently imposed a penalty that cost him his first victory. He now wants to take revenge for this in Hungary. On June 10, five hours before the start of the Zurich E-Prix, Kris Richard celebrated his [...]
On June 10, five hours before the start of the Zurich E-Prix, Kris Richard celebrated his first victory in the TCR European Series in faraway Belgium. After a tough duel with Julien Briché in a Peugeot 308, the Bernese crossed the finish line at Spa-Francorchamps in his Hyundai i30 N TCR with a few meters ahead of the Frenchman.
Easy come, easy go - three hours after the ceremony, Richard received a one-second time penalty. Not much, but enough to relegate him from first to second place.
The reason: On the penultimate lap, there was a collision between the Hyundai and the Peugeot when braking for the chicane at Les Combes. Briché had to take a detour over the grass and Richard thus took the lead to the finish.
The steward remained stubborn
The Swiss, who had been robbed of his victory, was furious, and so were all the members of Target Competition. This decision was also met with pure incomprehension by opposing teams - even by the heir apparent.
As Briché is said to have communicated last, he clearly told the steward in question that he did not want this victory in such a way. But the steward who imposed the penalty remained stubborn.
The latter's decision would probably have been irreversible anyway, and so the place swap remains.
Kris Richard: "Target could have filed a protest right away and paid a deposit of 6,000 euros. Then the case would have gone to the FIA Court of Appeal, with an unknown outcome. If we had won, I would have gotten the victory and the eight points back, and the team would have gotten the 6,000 euros. If we had lost, the money would have been gone, too."
Answer on the asphalt
As a moral victor, the 2016 ETCC champion now prefers to give the answer to the Spa scandal on the asphalt. This weekend at the Hungaroring near Budapest, where rounds 7 and 8 of the TCR Europe 2018 will take place.
Kris Richard: "The farce in Belgium disappointed me, but it doesn't knock me off my feet. This incident only makes me stronger. Other big names in international motorsport have already been given incomprehensible penalties without there being any clear culpability. Obviously, you have to go through with it. Such things also happen in soccer. You just have to rise above it and give the answer right on the pitch, or in my case, on the track."
An open account
The GP circuit in Hungary should suit the Thun driver. In contrast to Spa, there is less power here, and with 14 turns there are also numerous opportunities for overtaking. So the chances of another podium are intact - even though Kris Richard has never raced on the Hungaroring.
Kris Richard: "The BoP (Balance of Performance, Red.) is less decisive here. Here, the driver can make the difference. You have to be extremely alert here, the track demands everything from you. I'll certainly be pushing hard; my clear goal is to clinch my second podium after Belgium. Preferably right at the top - because I still have a score to settle..."
The two races (the first on Saturday at 13.40, the second on Sunday at 11.50) can be watched on the TCR Europe internet TV channel at http://www.tcr-series.tv can be followed live.
