Milovan Vesnić returns to victory in TCR Eastern Europe
2019 TCR Eastern Europe champion Milovan Vesnić returned to victory in the event at Grobnik. The Serbian driver and his ASK Vesnić-run Audi RS 3 LMS took a lights-to-flag win in Saturday’s Race 1, resisting a late assault from championship leader Bartosz Groszek who had stalled at the start from the pole position. Sunday’s race was cancelled following a fatal accident occurred Saturday evening during a support race.
Groszek was fastest in Qualifying, beating Vesnić by one tenth, but the Pole stalled at the start and third-placed Petr Semerád had to steer in avoidance. Vesnić led from Žarko Knego, Petr Čížek and Sebastian Steibel, while Semerád and Groszek began to recover from fifth and 11th respectively. Semerád passed Steibel and Čížek, moving into third, while Groszek climbed to fifth by the end of lap 4. Groszek then overtook Čížek for fourth in lap 6.
Up front, Vesnić had built a three-second lead over the pair of Knego and Semerád; the latter took second from Knego in lap 7; Groszek too passed Knego in lap 8 and closed in on Semerád. In lap 10, Groszek overtook Semerád for second but in the meantime Vesnić had further stretched the gap and despite Groszek’s efforts he retained the lead and won by five tenths, while Semerád completed the podium.
In the standings, Groszek has extended his lead to 13 points over Semerád.
The championship will next race at Slovakia Ring on 19/21 August.
Grobnik – Race 1
1. Milovan Vesnić (ASK Vesnić, Audi RS 3 LMS), 17 laps
2. Bartosz Groszek (Aditis Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 0.512
3. Petr Semerád (Janík Motorsport, Hyundai i30 N), 2.184
Championship points
1. B. Groszek, 129 pts; 2. P. Semerád 116; 3. P. Čížek 78
Picture: TCR Eastern Europe
