Pietro Casillo

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Motorsport Journalist TouringCarTimes writer - TCR International Series - Wtcc - Etcc - DTM - All views expressed here are my own

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Marco Butti delighted with maiden Honda podium despite damage

Apr 21, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Marco Butti claimed the first podium of his FIA TCR World Tour career in the second race at Vallelunga. The GOAT Racing driver came together with John Filippi at the start which caused damage to his JAS-built Honda Civic Type R FL 5 TCR. Despite this, the Italian driver still managed to claim a podium on home soil, and was cleared of any wrongdoing in the post-race stewards inquiry concerning the incident.
Néstor Girolami “couldn’t ask for more” after winning Race 2 at Vallelunga

Apr 21, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Néstor Girolami turned a reversed grid pole position into victory in FIA TCR World Tour Race 2 at Vallelunga. The Hyundai driver made a good start and never looked back, despite two safety car sessions. “What a way to start the season with a new team”, said the Argentinian to TouringCarTimes. “Hyundai, BRC and everyone back at the workshop worked amazingly hard to give me a great car, and I’m happy to put it on top, especially after a difficult day yesterday.
Esteban Guerrieri gets time penalty for incident with Ma Qing Hua

Apr 21, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Esteban Guerrieri has been given a post-race five-second penalty for an incident with Ma Qing Hua in the second FIA TCR World Tour race at Vallelunga. The Argentinian driver had attacked the Lynk & Co driver at the Tornantino hairpin and made contact, unsettling Ma’s car before getting past for fourth. The penalty demotes the Honda driver from fourth to eighth in the Race 2 results, promoting Hyundai’s Mikel Azcona to fourth.
Aurelién Comte leads another Cupra 1-2 at Vallelunga

Apr 21, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Aurelién Comte won the second TCR Europe race at Vallelunga and the Frenchman came home ahead of Cupra stable-mate Franco Girolami to duplicate yesterday’s top two, although in reversed order. Felipe Fernàndez completed the podium for Honda team GOAT Racing. Pole sitter Dusan Borkovic made a bad start which allowed Felipe Fernàndez to take the lead ahead of Levente Losonczy, who was immediately challenged and passed by Comte.
Néstor Girolami takes lights-to-flag win in Vallelunga Race 2

Apr 21, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Néstor Girolami took a commanding win with his Hyundai Elantra N TCR in FIA TCR World Tour Race 2 at Valleunga. The Argentinian came home ahead of fellow South American driver Santiago Urrutia, with the Lynk & Co driver finishing ahead of Honda driver Marco Butti. At the start Girolami had a decent getaway, but Urrutia challenged him for the lead. Butti got a lighting start from fifth and was on the outside at Cimini fighting with Filippi for third.
Marco Butti accepts Race 1 penalty on Honda debut

Apr 20, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Marco Butti was one of the main protagonists of the show in FIA TCR World Tour Race 1 at Vallelunga. The GOAT Racing driver, who is making his debut with the Honda Civic Type R FL5 TCR, fought intensely with the likes of Thed Björk and Mikel Azcona during the race. But contact with the latter at Turn 7 on the first lap resulted in a penalty for the young Italian, dropping him from fourth to fifth. “I think the penalty is fair,” admitted Butti to TouringCarTimes.
Thed Björk planning to go flat out after entertaining Race 1 fight

Apr 20, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

2017 WTCC champion Thed Björk provided most of the entertainment in the first FIA TCR World Tour heat at Vallelunga. The Lynk & Co driver defended hard from Honda’s Marco Butti and Hyundai’s Mikel Azcona for most of the race, which was a masterclass in defensive driving until the Swede made contact with BF Motorsport’s Ramazan Kaya whilst lapping him, which allowed his rivals through.
Yann Ehrlacher only believed he could win for five corners at Vallelunga

Apr 20, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

A lighting start allowed Yann Ehrlacher to launch his Lynk & Co 03 FL TCR into the lead from second place in the first FIA TCR World Tour race of the season opener at Vallelunga. The Frenchman was however overtaken by Norbert Michelisz at the exit of the last corner on the second lap, and after that it was more a question of keeping Esteban Guerrieri at bay behind him rather than looking ahead to a potential win.
Norbert Michelisz “didn’t leave a lot on the table” to Vallelunga win

Apr 20, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Hyundai driver Norbert Michelisz cruised to what looked like an easy win in the first race of the 2024 FIA TCR World Tour season at Vallelunga. The Hungarian lost the lead to Lynk & Co’s Yann Ehrlacher at the start, but quickly overtook his rival and never looked back. “It was not easy,” revealed the BRC driver to TouringCarTimes.
Franco Girolami cruises to Vallelunga Race 1 win

Apr 20, 2024 | touringcartimes.com | Pietro Casillo

Franco Girolami won the first race of the 2024 TCR Europe season, leading from lights to flag in his Monlau Motorsport Cupra Leon EZ TCR. Aurélien Comte made it a Cupra 1-2, while Ignacio Montenegro completed the podium for Honda after inheriting third from Nicola Baldan (Audi), who slipped down to fourth due to a penalty. Girolami claimed the lead from pole as Comte and Baldan overtook Montenegro. Dusan Borkovic stalled on the grid from tenth, although he managed to recover relatively quickly.