Bjork clinches title in WTCC finale at Losail

In what was an anti-climax, Volvo’s Thed Bjork clinched the WorldTouring Car Championship title, after his nearest rival Honda’s NorbertMichelisz failed to rise up to the challenge in the final round at theLosail International Circuit last night.It was meant to be the closest battle for WTCC title in years, withSweden’s Bjork carrying just a six-and-half-point lead over Michelisz.But the Hungarian suffered a brake issue in qualifying and had to startfrom 11th. He could not make up ground, and finished ninth and eighth inOpening Race and Main Race respectively.Bjork, starting seventh from the grid, finished fifth in first race,with teammate Yvan Muller protecting the championship leader frombehind. Carrying a 16.5-point lead over Michelisz heading into Race 2,with 30 on offer, Bjork just had to maintain his starting position offourth in the main race to guarantee the drivers’ crown. But the36-year-old Swede went one better finishing third even as Micheliszlimped to the finish line in his Honda Civic.A triumphant Bjork stood on top of his Volvo S60 car, held his armsaloft as he celebrated with his team. “It’s the best night of mycareer,” said the Swede. “Unbelievable, absolutely crazy. Thank you somuch everybody,” added the new champion on the radio as he crossed thefinish line. To make it a double delight, Volvo also won themanufacturers’ title.Honda had something to cheer about as Esteban Guerrieri won the MainRace. Sebastian Loeb Racing’s Tom Chilton claimed victory in thepenultimate race, which clinched the Brit the WTCC Trophy title.Argentina’s Guerrieri was never threatened after starting from pole inthe 12-lap Main Race. He and Bjork were joined on the podium by MunnichMotorsport’s Rob Huff, who made a determined bid to rise from his thirdposition on the grid by taking to the grass on the run down to Turn 1 atthe start.Nicky Catsburg played the lead support to Bjork, before finishing thirdin his Volvo S60, ahead of the new champion. WTCC Trophy championChilton was fifth. Mehdi Bennani, Chilton’s teammate lost all hope ofbeating the Briton to the title at Turn 1 following the start.The Moroccan, who won here last year, came into heavy contact with WTCClegend Muller, who pushed him off and a few laps later Bennani retiredhis Citroen C-Elysee with damage and a puncture on the front rightcorner.From 11th on the grid, Michelisz made up one position off the line andbenefited from a collision between Chilton, Bennani and Muller to climbto ninth. He then passed John Filippi’s Sebastien Loeb Racing Citroenfurther round the opening lap, but found Muller’s Volvo a more difficultobstacle to clear.The Hungarian ultimately ended up stuck behind Muller — who had come outof retirement to assist Volvo’s title push — for the remaining 11 lapsand crossed the line in eighth. It was a disappointing finish to thecampaign for Michelisz, who had made a late march towards the titleafter wins in Portugal, Argentina and Japan. In the Opening race of 10 laps, Chilton passed teammate Bennani with alittle over two laps of the race to go and eased home from there to awinning margin of 2.175 seconds.Chilton tailed Bennani after both had passed pole position starter KevinGleason in his RC Motorsport entry. The two French cars put on anentertaining battle, which included some contact, before Chilton madethe decisive move on lap eight of 10.“Yes! The race of my life!” he shouted in delight over the radio aftertaking the chequered flag. “Oh wow. It really was the race of my life.We didn’t give each other an inch and at one point I thought Mehdi wasgoing to put me into the tyres. But this is for an FIA worldchampionship – and now I’m leading it,” he added.His victory meant he led Bennani by 1.5 points going into the Main Race.Eventually it didn’t matter, as Bennani crashed out in the late nightrace, easing Chilton of any pressure.