Team Craft-Bamboo score podium in Sochi

Team Craft-Bamboo Lukoil scored a well fought second place podium at title sponsor Lukoil’s home race at the Sochi International Circuit in Russia. The team showed great pace all weekend and after a good qualifying run by Pepe Oriola secured him P2 on the start grid for race one, he was able to maintain his position throughout the race to take the second step on the podium. Oriola looked strong in race two and was carving up the competition on his way to the front, but an issue with the front right of his car dropped him down the order and forced him into the pits where he would be classified P13 by race end.

James Nash made the most of his first time at the Russian circuit, finishing P4 in both races. Unfortunately, a harsh ruling from the stewards saw Nash receive a 10 second time penalty for contact in race one, resulting in a P8 classification. Sergey Afanasyev did not have the weekend he was hoping for at home, finishing in P13 after a drive through penalty in race one for track limits. The home hero fought back in race two though and charged from P11 up to P7, showing great pace and offensive driving skill in the process. Oriola is now second in the drivers’ championship, trailing the lead by one point, while Nash is third in the standings and only seven points behind first.

Without the harsh ruling by the stewards, Nash would have reclaimed his lead in the championship and been clear of Comini by one point. Afanasyev is still looking strong in P7 and the team is still sitting at the top of the teams’ championship with a considerable margin. The TCR series now enters its summer break and will reconvene in Thailand for the final Asian leg of the season.

Race One Quotes

James Nash, Driver #54: “It was always going to be difficult with Sochi being a new track for me but I tried to learn the circuit as quickly as possible and then maximize my start position in qualifying. I started race one from P7, made a relatively good start and overtook Vernay on lap two or three and held fourth position until the end to get some good points.”

Pepe Oriola, Driver #74: “I am happy with second place and with the move I made on Morbidelli. I wanted to close the gap on P1 but it was too late.”

Sergey Afanasyev, #77: “I stalled at the start and then I was trying to get some positions back. Unfortunately, I went off the track a few times and was given a drive through penalty. I lost all the positions that I had gained and it was not the way I wanted to end my first race but I am looking forwards to race two.”

Race Two Quotes

James Nash, Driver #54: “Started P4 so I was expecting to be able to make the most of it and even compete for the win. I wasn’t able to take as many positions as I had hoped but had some good fights with the competition. Walking away with fourth again is a good result and it keeps me in a good spot in the championship.”

Pepe Oriola, Driver #74: “Race two I had a good start and was going well until I had a small touch with Borkovic, which allowed Comini to have a good fight with me and get in front. Unfortunately, in the last laps I had an issue with my steering direction and couldn’t finish the race. So it is the holidays now and we will see everyone again in one month in Buriram.”

Sergey Afanasyev, Driver #77: “I really focused on making a good start this time and then I began to fight to move forward, and in the end I was in a good position to hopefully follow up just behind my teammates. I fought hard and was able to finish in P7 and score some more points. I am looking forward to returning after the summer break and continuing the fight for the championship.”

Richard Coleman, CEO of Craft-Bamboo Racing

“We had excellent speed in the car this weekend and were consistently quick through all the practice sessions, slightly unlucky to miss out on pole but we have been the best performing SEAT team all weekend. James drove well having two fourth place finishes, but unfortunately picked up a penalty which I judge to be very harsh. We are where we are and happy that we are still leading the teams’ championship and we are only 1 point off the lead. I am sorry for Sergey who had a difficult home race but all the boys will refocus for after the summer break when the championship resumes in Thailand.”

Craft-Bamboo Racing