Norbert Michelisz and Aurélien Comte shared the spoils in an exhilarating Kumho FIA TCR World Tour double-header at Monza, because the sequence delivered two action-packed races throughout its third race assembly of the season
Michelisz grabbed his first pole place in over a yr for the BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse staff, main teammate Mikel Azcona in a carefully fought qualifying session. There was additional trigger for celebration for the Italian squad, with Néstor Girolami securing pole for the second race by setting the tenth quickest time.
The Hungarian ace returned to the highest step of the rostrum for the primary time this season with a commanding lights-to-flag victory in Saturday’s opening race. He led away cleanly from pole, whereas drama unfolded behind as Comte snatched second at Flip 1 from Azcona.
A multi-car conflict between Ma Qing Hua, John Filippi and Ruben Volt resulted in retirements for Ma and Filippi, whereas Volt was in a position to rejoin. Comte briefly challenged for the lead, however a mistake at Lesmo 2 and a subsequent puncture ended his cost. As extra rivals hit bother. together with Azcona with a tyre subject and Santiago Urrutia with a turbo failure, Michelisz maintained his composure to seal victory 1.7s forward of sequence factors chief Yann Ehrlacher.
Esteban Guerrieri starred with a powerful drive from tenth on the grid to fifth, overtaking Girolami on the ultimate lap. The rostrum was accomplished by Thed Björk, whereas native wildcard Damiano Reduzzi completed a powerful seventh.
Sunday’s second race delivered a landmark second for Comte, who powered by from eighth on the grid to safe his maiden victory.
Girolami led early on from reverse-grid pole however quickly got here underneath strain from Björk and Comte. The Frenchman dispatched Ignacio Montenegro after which Björk with daring strikes by Curva Grande, earlier than overtaking Girolami on lap 9 and settling into the lead.
Girolami fended off Björk and Michelisz in a good battle for second, whereas Comte cruised to a 1.5s win, capping an ideal redemption after Saturday’s disappointment.
Guerrieri once more made stable positive factors to complete seventh from 14th on the grid, additional decreasing the hole to Ehrlacher, who got here dwelling ninth. The title race stays vast open, with the Frenchman holding a 16-point lead over the Argentine, and Urrutia an additional 11 factors adrift in third.
Michelisz’s weekend haul strikes him as much as fifth within the standings, whereas Girolami’s robust factors from each races elevate him to fourth general.
The sequence resumes in two weeks’ time on the streets of Vila Actual, Portugal.
