Stefano Comini won his second race of the year in a breathtaking Race 2 at Monza. The reigning double champion of TCR International imposed his Comtoyou Racing Audi RS3 LMS at the end of a thrilling battle. Comini took a great start, managing to take the lead in the first lap, but could never build a substantial gap. In the final part of the race he had to defend himself from the attacks of Roberto Colciago. The winner of yesterday’s Race 1, at the wheel of the M1RA Honda Civic, made a stunning charge through the field, climbing from ninth on the grid up to P2. He even managed to pass Comini on the penultimate lap, but the Swiss responded immediately afterwards and then was able to defend P1 until the chequered flag. With the first 11 cars finishing within 4 seconds, it was a typical, exciting and close Touring Car race at Monza, with plenty of action and duels. Frédéric Vervisch took third with the second Audi RS3 LMS, completing the excellent day of Comtoyou Racing, preceding the Lukoil Craft-Bamboo SEAT León of James Nash and the Leopard Racing Team WRT Volkswagen Golf GTI of Jean-Karl Vernay. The Frenchman is still leading the overall standings, with 113 points, but Colciago and Comini are now only 16 and 18 points behind.
The title fight is just starting to heat up!
Key facts
Grid – The engine on Van Lagen’s car was changed after Race 1, which demoted the Dutchman at the back of the grid
Start – Comini takes an excellent start from row 2, overtaking Valente, who gets the worst in a first chicane incident with Vernay and Oriola; Tassi is also pushed into a spin and collects Borkovićwho retires
Lap 1 – Comini leads from Nash, Vernay, Oriola, Homola, Colciago and Vervisch
Lap 2 – Homola and Oriola fight for fourth
Lap 3 – Vervisch and Colciago move up to fifth and sixth overtaking Homola; Colciago overtakes Vervisch for fifth
Lap 4 – Colciago passes Oriola for fourth
Lap 5 – Vervisch passes Oriola for fifth
Lap 6 – Colciago passes Vernay for third at Lesmo 1; Comini manages to build a small margin
Lap 7 – Vervisch and Vernay are fighting for fourth; the Belgian passes at La Roggia, while Homola passes Oriola for sixth at the same spot; Colciago takes second from Nash; Kajaia takes seventh from Oriola
Lap 8 – Tassi passes van Lagen for 11th; there is a contact at the braking of the first chican, Morbidelli spins and Altoè cuts straight; Paulsen pits with a steering wheel issue
Lap 9 – Colciago cuts off completely Comini’s advantage and sticks on the Audi’s rear bumper
Lap 10 – The first seven cars are covered by 1.5 seconds; Colciago takes the lead by passing Comini from the outside at the first chicane, with Vervisch doing the same with Nash for third; at the braking for La Roggia, Comini retakes the lead
Lap 11 – Vernay cuts the first chicane but retakes his previous position; Colciago makes a last attempt at the braking before the Parabolica, but Comini keeps the inside lines and wins by 0.170 second. Third is Vervisch, ahead of Nash, Vernay, Homola, Kajaia, Oriola, Tassi and Ficza, with Van Lagen 11th; all those within 4 seconds!
