Néstor Girolami has claimed his first win in over a year, and the first for BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse in this season of the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour; the Argentine came through from fifth to win a high energy Race 2 in Valencia.
John Filippi’s CUPRA led the way from pole on the reversed grid ahead of Felipe Fernández’s Honda, while Girolami was up to third from fifth on the grid, passing Esteban Guerrieri and Ruben Volt.
Girolami overtook Fernández for second in lap 2, then Fernández allowed teammate Guerrieri through, but at the same time Thed Björk tried to make his way past. Fernández came back at him and kept the position, with Björk under attack from Norbert Michelisz and Volt.
Girolami took the lead from Filippi in lap 3, while the battle between Volt, Michelisz, and Björk raged on for a few more laps, with Volt overtook both Michelisz and Björk to move up to fifth. Volt then charged past Fernández for fourth and Michelisz overtook Björk at Turn 2. But the Hungarian’s race unravelled in lap 6, when he tried to pass Fernández and made contact with Björk. Michelisz went off and dropped down to 14th.
Björk soon allowed Yann Ehrlacher through, and the French driver continued his charge from tenth on the grid. Both Volt and Ehrlacher passed Guerrieri and Filippi to move up to second and third, though there was a fright for Ehrlacher as Filippi clipped the rear of his car at the final corner when he passed on lap 13.
Girolami had built up a 3.5 second lead, but this was coming down during the final laps with Volt and Ehrlacher closing; however, the Argentine crossed the line to claim his first win since Vallelunga last year. Volt picked up his and ALM Motorsport’s first podium on its debut in the series, while Ehrlacher’s third place means he has taken the most points of the weekend so far and so will start Race 3 from the pole.
Girolami’s victory moved him up to sixth in the standings, while Guerrieri’s fifth moved him back into the lead just three points ahead of Ehrlacher and four of Race 1 winner Santiago Urrutia.
The third race is scheduled to start underway at 15:30 CEST.
Race 2
- Néstor Girolami (BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, Hyundai Elantra N), 19 laps
- Ruben Volt (ALM Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R FL5), 1.029
- Yann Ehrlacher (Lynk & Co Cyan Racing, Lynk & Co 03 FL), 1.732
Championship points
- E. Guerrieri, 125 pts; 2. Y. Ehrlacher, 122; 3. S. Urrutia, 121
Picture: WSC/Fastclick
