Nicky Catsburg walks into a Nagoya Airport hotel bar. No, it's not a tortured set-up for a joke; quite the opposite. The tension was palpable as the BRC Racing driver walked past Cyan Racing CEO Christian Dahl last Sunday evening and tentatively offered a courtesy nod, which was reciprocated with a cursory one back from his former employer.
A day earlier, Catsburg found himself in hot water after tagging Cyan driver Andy Priaulx out of 13th place in the Suzuka World Touring Car Cup opener, not long after being allowed through to attack Priaulx by his BRC Racing Hyundai team-mate and title hopeful Norbert Michelisz.
A furious Priaulx waited until the field came back past the first corner, this time under the safety car, and stood on the edge of the gravel trap to gesticulate at Michelisz's car - now ahead of Catsburg's again - a misdemeanour that earned the three-time World Touring Car champion a €1000 fine.