Hungarian BMW 320 TC racer Norbert Michelisz finished third in race one and second in race two when the World Touring Car Championship ran at Infineon Raceway in California. It was the series’ first visit to the US.
Chevrolet Cruze racers continued their pattern of domination in this year's WTCC competition, with Yvan Muller winning race one and Rob Huff winning race two.
Michelisz moved up from fifth on the grid as other racers fell by the wayside, finishing behind Muller and Huff. Other BMW racers in the top ten included Franz Engstler in seventh, Tom Coronel, who had started 21st, in eighth, and Stefano D’Aste in ninth.
Michelisz started sixth in race two and worked his way up to second. He challenged Huff for the lead, but could not find his way by the Chevrolet racer.
Three BMW runners led early, but were unable to stay in front. Pole sitter D’Aste spun off after making contact with fellow BMW racer Mehdo Bennani on lap one. Bennani led until he hit the wall on lap three. Then Engstler assumed the lead, only to be punted aside by Chevrolet’s Muller on the next lap. Muller received a drive-through penalty for the incident; the setback allowed Huff to emerge from the event in a tie with Muller in drivers’ points.
Coronel finished fifth and D’Aste finished ninth. Michelisz’s finishes extended his lead in the chase for the Yokohama Trophy for independent racers.
The series moves to Asia for its final three events, with races at Suzuka in Japan in October and at Shanghai and Macau in China in November.—Brian S. Morgan
