LADA driver Gabriele Tarquini is convinced he could have made FIA World Touring Car Championship victory number 22 in China on Sunday had it not been for contact with Tom Chilton.
The pair clashed exiting the hairpin at half distance in the Opening Race with both drivers pitting immediately for repairs, and effectively giving Thed Björk a clear run to attack Norbert Michelisz for the lead.
Afterwards Tarquini said: “It was disappointing not to finish the Opening Race after contact with Tom, if I had got past him I could have won I am sure, but making the pass we had some contact, [it] broke my wheel and that was it.”
Fortunes improved for Tarquini in the Main Race when he took fifth place behind team-mate Nicky Catsburg. “I couldn’t really push and held the Volvos behind me for a decent P5 behind Nicky.”