Goransson Surprised by ETCC Win
Richard Goransson said he was surprised to take victory in the FIA European Touring Car Cup , because he thought regular World Touring Car driver Alex Zanardi would be too strong
The one-off event, for national competitors of Super 2000 and Super Production Car championships only, was won by Swedish competitor Goransson after finishing second in the pair of races in Vallelunga.
Alex Zanardi, who has been racing in the Italian Touring Car championship as as well as the World championship dominated the first race but only managed seventh in the second, which was won by regular BTCC competitor Jason Plato.
West Coast Racing driver Goransson said: "I didn't expect to have this result today especially considering how great Alex Zanardi had been all weekend. We took a few steps forward today and it worked well.
"In the second race, I was talking to the pits and they told me Zanardi was on his way up the positions so I didn't know if I had done enough to win the title. This event has been a success. It is fantastic to have so many countries competing and I hope I have made a lot of Swedes very happy and proud."
Zanardi was left cursing his bad luck following his braking problem, which led to him being off the pace in the second race.
"This is motorsport; sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you are not," Zanardi said. "I believe I had the fastest car all weekend but the second race didn't go my way and it was one of those things.
"I had a problem braking which made it difficult for me and I think I lost it because of this. It is not so nice to be on the side of bad luck but I would like to congratulate Richard Goransson on his success."
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