It was a very eventful WTCR race in Vila Real, Portugal this last weekend, where proceedings had to be halted following a huge crash on the very first lap.
Initially, it was pole position holder Rob Huff and his teammate Mehdi Bennani that came together after running side by side through the first couple of corners. On Turn 3 however, the right-front corner of Bennani’s car made contact with the left-rear of Huff’s VW Golf GTI and the rest is history.
“From what I saw it was Rob and Mehdi colliding,” stated fellow racer Norbert Michelisz, who got hit just as Huff’s GTI darted backwards following the initial impact.
“I experienced a big push from behind, my car went sideways and I couldn’t avoid [being hit]. I’m a bit angry because without the hit I could have avoided it. It was a big impact but nothing serious from my side,” stated the Hungarian driver, as reported by Autosport.
What was really scary, however, was seeing a Hyundai i30 N burst out in flames after cars started running into each other. The Hyundai was driven by Swedish 2017 champion Thed Bjork, who made it out of his car safely.
After the track was cleared, the race resumed and French driver Yvan Muller finished first in his i30 N, reclaiming his points lead in the drivers standings.
https://youtu.be/0MQZryIghvo