The title of the TCR Benelux’s maiden season will be decided by the last couple of sprint races today at Mettet’s Circuit Jules Tacheny.
Benjamin Lessenes (Boutsen-Ginion Racing Honda Civic) and Frédéric Caprasse (DG Sport Compétition Opel Astra) took one win apiece in the first two sprint races, while Lessenes’ teammate and point leader Stéphane Lémeret finished third and second. Taking into account the victory that he had taken in this morning’s Qualifying Race while sharing his care with guest star Norbert Michelisz, Lémeret maintained a leading margin of 22.5 points ahead of the pairing of Caprasse and Pierre-Yves Corthals.
50 points are still at stake in races 3 and 4 that will start at 16:25, with Michelisz and Corthals at the wheel.
Race 1 – Pole sitter Amaury Richard had to pit during the warm-up lap due to a broken driveshaft. Caprasse took the best start, but Lessenes overtook him at the last turn of lap 2, while Lémeret was lying in third position.
Lessenes pulled away, while Caprasse had to defend his second place from Lémeret. Only in the final stages was Caprass able to increase his pace and close the gap from the leader. However, positions did not change: Lessenes won from Caprasse, Lémeret, Romain De Leval (Delahaye Racing Volkswagen Golf) and Sam Dejonghe (RACB SEAT León).
Race 2 – Caprasse took the lead from Lessenes and Lémeret. On lap 4 Lémeret managed to overtake Lessenes for second. The top three positions froze until the end of the race, while the Delahaye Racing trio of Guillaume Mondron (SEAT León), De Leval (Volkswagen Golf) and Amaury Richard (Volkswagen Golf) delivered an exciting fight for the fourth position.
