» WTCC: Sonderegger, Fabiani allowed to race

The two non-qualifiers for this weekend’s World Touring Car Championship round in Hungary have both been granted permission by the race stewards to start the two races today.

Wiechers Sport driver Urs Sonderegger was sidelined from qualifying action after wrecking his BMW 320TC in Saturday’s second practice session, and accordingly failed to register a flying lap in qualifying.

Fabiani – handicapped by running the only normally-aspirated BMW in the field – missed the 107% qualifying cut-off by mere tenths of a second, and was given dispensation by the stewards to start both races.

The pair will line up on the last row of the grid, with Fabiani in 19th spot and Sonderegger in 20th.

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Meanwhile, astute fans may have noticed the absence of DeTeam KK driver Marchy Lee from this weekend’s activities.

The Hong Kong driver is missing in action at Budapest while his Engstler-engineered BMW 320TC is being reliveried.

The 34-year-old secured a new sponsorship deal after finishing a career-best 14th in Italy last time out. He will be back in action at the next round at Brno in a fortnight’s time.

[Images via FIA WTCC Media]