Augusto Farfus has apologised to James Thompson for causing him to retire from the lead just over a lap from home in the final World Touring Car race of the season in Macau.

Farfus was running Thompson close as they entered the penultimate lap of the race, but the Brazilian misjudged a move on the Honda coming up to the Solitude Esses and the two came together. Thompson subsequently hit the barriers, heavily damaging his car and putting him out of the race.

Farfus duly inherited the lead of the race, but the impact would result in him losing the front-left wheel on his BMW 320si just a few corners from the finish line.

A sour end to what has been a troublesome season for Farfus, while he was frustrated with his own misfortune, he did apologise for preventing Thompson from winning the race.

“It's not easy to cope with a retirement when you are leading the race on the final lap. But it somehow reflects how this season went for me. I'm sorry that James Thompson was forced to retire. This was my only chance to overtake him. Maybe he didn't expect an attack there.

Farfus also had kind words to say to title winner Yvan Muller, acknowledging the clear winning margin he achieved by the end of the season.

“Congratulations to SEAT and Yvan Muller. To beat your team-mates by such a clear margin is impressive.”