Langeveld and Tavano win one apiece in TCR Italy opener

TCR Italy’s opening weekend at Monza saw series newcomer Niels Langeveld and former triple champion Salvatore Tavano take one win apiece.

The Dutchman claimed a light-to-flag victory in the first race that finished in full-course-yellow regime due to a sudden shower; Langeveld gave the Hyundai Elantra N its first victory in the Italian series. In Race 2, Tavano and his CUPRA Leon Competición won an exciting battle with Jack Young’s Honda Civic that had led from the beginning. 

Denis Babuin had the pole but stalled at the start of Race 1 and got going at the back of the field, while Langeveld took the lead ahead of Tavano, Kevin Ceccon and Young. The leading quartet opened a gap and delivered a thrilling fight. In lap 3, Young passed Ceccon for third and then they both overtook Tavano just before the safety car was deployed to recover the cars of Felipe Fernández and Matteo Poloni following a collision. When racing resumed, Young attempted to pass Langeveld; their cars clashed and Ceccon took the opportunity to steal second from Young, but the Ulsterman regained the position in lap 9. With five minutes left a sudden shower hit the track and as all cars were on slicks, the race control ordered a full course yellow that froze the positions until the end, with Langeveld the winner from Young, Ceccon, Tavano, Ruben Volt and Damiano Reduzzi who completed a great recovery from P20 on the grid. Jonathan Giacon’s new FIAT Tipo ran as high as sixth and eventually finished a promising ninth. 

Marco Iannotta was on pole of the top-eighth reversed grid for Race 2, but Sylvain Pussier made a better start from P2. However, he was soon passed by Young and Tavano who began fighting for the lead. Behind the top three, there was a close battle for the positions between Langeveld and Ceccon, until the Dutch retired with a broken suspension in lap 6. After several attempts, Tavano stole the lead from Young in lap 4 and ran away, while Ceccon passed Pussier in lap 16 and finished third just like in the first race. Giacon’s FIAT made the top-ten again after a series of skirmishes with Babuin, Volt, Iannotta, Felipe and Rubén Fernández who filled the positions between fifth and ninth.

Young has emerged as the leader of the standings, two points clear of Tavano, while Ceccon lies third six further points adrift.

The championship will resume in two week-time at Imola, on 6/8 May.

Monza – Race 1
1. Niels Langeveld (Target Competition, Hyundai Elantra N), 13 laps
2. Jack Young (MM Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 1.097
3. Kevin Ceccon (Aggressive Team Italia, Hyundai Elantra N), 3.132

Monza – Race 2
1. Salvatore Tavano (Scuderia del Girasole, CUPRA Leon Competición), 17 laps
2. Jack Young (MM Motorsport, Honda Civic Type R), 1.060
3. Kevin Ceccon (Aggressive Team Italia, Hyundai Elantra N), 2.342

Championship points
1. J. Young, 80 pts; 2. S. Tavano, 78; 3. K. Ceccon 72

Picture: ACI Sport