Analysis: Michelisz takes historic podium

2010. november 17. 20:57 | még nem szólt hozzá senki.  szerző: Viktor Adorján

Following the decision by the International Court of Appeal to exclude the works BMWs from the 2010 Race of Japan, Norbert Michelisz takes over the third place on Race 1 which means he became the first ever Hungarian driver and the first rookie this season to get into the top three.

Zengő-Dension Team’s Norbert Michelisz was promoted to third place on Race 1 of Japan following the decision by the International Court of Appeal to exclude Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus for using sequential gearboxes in their 2010 BMW 320si cars.

Chevrolet attacked the ruling of the Panel of Stewards on 30 October 2010 at the FIA WTCC event in Okayama to allow the BMW Team RBM to install the sequential gearboxes for the cars and the governing body gave place to the appeal and excluded Priaulx and Farfus.

This means that Norbert Michelisz is advanced to take 3rd place instead his best ever fifth placed finish and therefore became the first ever Hungarian driver to take a podium finish in a circuit based world championship.

Michelisz also ended up as the first and so far only rookie driver this season who could get into the top three and strengthened his lead in the 2010 Rookie Challenge.

Progress has been made

Before the decision the Hungarian driver said that he is disappointed that the season is about to end as he thinks, he and his team made progress towards the latter part of the season which enabled him to be stronger and closer to the pace than ever in Japan.

Norbert Michelisz emerged as the fastest SEAT Leon TDI driver in Japan but the rain and various other factors hindered him to fight for the top spots. He managed to take a 5th placed finish on Race 1 (which is now overwritten by his 3rd place) and an 8th position (that has changed for a 7th) on Race 2.

„A lot people say what ifs but I’m truly aware that based on the conclusions we have drawn since Okayama, we made there a huge step forward even if it wasn’t clearly visible for the outsiders,” said Norbert Michelisz ahead the ruling.

The decision by the Court of Appeal also means that Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller is now officially the champion of the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship as his edge over Gabriele Tarquini has increased to 55 points ahead the final round to be held this weekend on the streets of Macau where a total 50 points are up for grabs.

Michelisz’s situation is slightly altered as well but he still lies 10th in the overall rankings with 69 points behind Okayama race winner Colin Turkington who has collected 97 points which means that the only realistic aim is to fend off Michel Nykjaer who has scored 66 points in the overall standings and emerged as the main threat for the Rookie Challenge victory.

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