Dušan Borković makes it four-from-four at Slovakiaring
Dušan Borkovič has won his fourth race in a row in the TCR Eastern Europe series, leading from lights-to-flag in his M1RA Motorsport Hyundai i30 N, while a refreshed podium featured the GT2 Motorsport Volkswagen of Jáchym Galáš, and the hard-charging Zengő Motorsport CUPRA of Bence Boldizs, who went from 12th to finish third.
The grid was set by the second fastest times from Friday’s qualifying, which meant it was much the same as yesterday’s grid, with Borkovič starting from pole ahead of Sandro Soubek’s Audi and Galáš’s Volkswagen.
Yesterday’s second-placed Dušan Kouřil again started from fourth but had a poor start in his Hyundai and dropped to eighth, with the CUPRA of Michal Makeš up to fourth in his place.
Up front, Borkovič led the way ahead of Soubek and Galáš, while Boldizs had a stunning first lap and the Hungarian was already up seven places to fifth by the end of lap one. It took Boldizs another four laps to get ahead of Makeš’ CUPRA, with Kouřil’s Hyundai following him though into fifth.
Meanwhile, the chief battle was for seventh, with Petr Čížek in the CUPRA Leon Competición fighting to keep back 16-year-old Szymon Jabłonski’s Hyundai. After a close, five-lap battle, Jabłonski was able to take the position on lap ten.
On the same lap, just as yesterday, Soubek’s pace began to fade as he struggled for grip, and he was passed by Galáš for second. Soubek continued to fall behind, and a lap later the final podium position was snatched by Bolsizs, while Kouřil dropped out of contention, slowing out of fifth in his Hyundai.
That promoted Makeš to fifth, albeit briefly, with Jabłonski diving down the inside of the CUPRA driver at the start of the 12th and final lap, and then managed to close the six second gap to Soubek’s ailing Audi in a single lap. Jabłonski ultimately had to settle for fifth, crossing the line just four-tenths of a second behind behind Soubek, a strong drive after starting tenth on the grid.
Up front, no one could stop Borkovič, who won by a more leisurely 5.4 seconds ahead of Galáš, with Boldizs third.
The next round of the series takes place at the Automotodrom Brno on September 5th-6th.
Race 2 result
1. Dušan Borkovič (M1RA Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 12 laps
2. Jáchym Galáš (GT2 Motorsport, Volkswagen Golf GTI), 5.417
3. Bence Boldizs (Zengő Motorsport, CUPRA), 8.838
4. Sandro Soubek (Mair Racing Östtirol, Audi RS 3 LMS, 16.602
5. Szymon Jabłonski (BM Racing Team, Hyundai i30 N), 17.022
Championship points
1. Dušan Borkovič 100 pts; 2. Jáchym Galáš 50; 3. Bence Boldizs 43
Picture: TCR Eastern Europe
