Kris Richard wins Race 2 ahead of Julien Briché
Kris Richard joined the club of 2018 TCR Europe race winners after taking a closely-fought victory in today’s Race 2 at Spa-Francorchamps. The Swiss driver of Target Competition took the lead during the first lap, but then had to work to defend the position, first from Josh Files (who was later stopped by an electrical problem) and then from Julien Briché, who attacked the Hyundai relentlessly at the wheel of the JSB Compétition Peugeot 308. Just as in Race 1, the Frenchman rose to the occasion and was part of some great duels. Local hero Maxime Potty (Comtoyou Volkswagen Golf) visited the podium for a second time this weekend, taking third ahead of a very clever Mikel Azcona (PCR Sport Cupra), who further extended his lead in the Drivers’ Championship standings, as Duśan Borković (Target Competition Hyundai) could finish no higher than 7th. Jean-Karl Vernay (Leopard Lukoil Team Audi) was a victim of some fierce battling in the closing laps when he was fighting for a podium position, while the Honda cars endured a difficult Sunday; both Stefano Comini (before the start) and Josh Files (after the safety car period) were halted by electronic bugs and Attila Tassi was sidelined by a puncture.
Giovanni Altoè encored his yesterday win in the DSG Trophy, while Briché collected the TCR Benelux Trophy.
In the championship standings, Azcona has increased his tally to 95 points, 11 clear of Borković; Vernay lies third with a gap of 39 points, while Dániel Nagy is fourth a further two points adrift.
The series will resume at the Hungaroring in the first weekend of July.
