It was an intense and beautiful Race 2 at the Ricard this afternoon, with Emil Frey Racing taking a second win with the Lamborghini Huracan Evo, this time with its other duo, Norbert Siedler-Mikaël Grenier, both at their maiden win in the series. They beat the two Mercedes of Miguel Ramos-Fabrizio Crestani (SPS Automotive) and Alessio Rovera-Daniel Zampieri (Antonelli Motorsport). By taking fourth, yesterday’s winners, Costa-Altoè (Emil Frey Racing) take the provisional lead in the standings.
It was great battle at all stages of the field, with Jiatong Liang-Raffaele Giammaria (Raton Racing by Target) giving to Lambo the success in Pro-Am as well after a superb final duel with the Optimum Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage of Ollie Wilkinson-Brad Ellis, with the Tempesta Racing Ferrari of Chris Froggatt-Eddie Cheever taking their first podium finish. In Am, yesterday’s result was faithfully replicated, as Alex Hrachowina-Martin Konrad (HTP Motorsport) won again ahead the Antonelli cars of Giuseppe Cipriani and Davide Roda.
THE RACE – At the start, Tom Onslow-Cole, who had signed a great pole, pulls away, but is passed by Rovera at first corner, with many cars running wide on both sides of the track. As they rejoin, there is contact in the middle of the group, prompting a number of collisions, which leaves two of the Teo Martín McLarens out of the race, as Hahn cannot avoid Rueda spinning in the middle of the group. The third car damaged, but able to go back to the pits and resume the race, is the …third car of the Spanish squad, with Chaves at the wheel.
Safety car is out for three laps and at restart, it’s Rovera leading ahead of Onslow- Cole, Altoè, Siedler, Griffin, Giammatia, Ellis, Ramos and Konrad, first in Am. The situation does not change much up to a couple of laps before the driver change window opens, when Onslow-Cole manages to take the lead from Rovera.
As the pit stops phase is completed, it’s Grenier leading ahead of Liang, Zampieri, Crestani, Pierburg, Cameron, Wilkinson, Onidi, Schandorff and Costa, all covered by only 15 seconds. Grenier manages to build a 5-second gap on Zampieri and Crestani, while the following group puts on a fantastic fight, with Wilkinson emerging ahead of Cameron, Costa, Liang, Onidi, Schandorff and Pierburg, but positions far from being cast in stone. Further aback, Kodrić and Jäger get in contact, with the German spinning.
Zampieri and Crestani are now in full fight for second, which gives breath to Grenier in the lead. Eventually, the SPS car will pass, but there is very fierce battle behind the leading trio, as Costa storms through the field to take fourth and Wilkinson and Liang battle for the Pro-Am win, with the Chinese passing in the closing lap. Kodric is 7th ahead of Cheever, while Hrachowina wins in Am in front of Cipriani and Roda.
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 2 OF 14
Overall: 1. Costa-Altoè, 23 points; 2. Ramos-Crestani, 20; 3. Kodrić-Chaves, 16; 4. Grenier-Siedler, Zampieri-Rovera, 15, etc
Pro-Am: 1. Liang-Giammaria, 16p.; 2. Pierburg-Onslow Cole, Wilkinson-Ellis, 10; 4. Hahn-Khodair, 8; 5. Froggtt-Cheever, 6; etc
Am: 1. Hrachowina-Konrad, 10 p.; 2. Cipriani, 8; 3. Roda; 6; 4. Silva-Coimbra, 4.
Teams: Emil Frey Racing, 24 p.; 2. SPS Automotive Performance, 15; 3. Teo Martin Motorsport, 14; 4. Antonelli Motorsport, 8; 5. Raton Racing by Target, 3; 6. Optimum Motorsport, 2.
