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Michal Makeš returned to the championship lead after penultimate round of the 2021 TCR Eastern Europe season at Slovakiaring. The Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra driver is 25 points ahead of second Tomáš Pekař. The Carpek Service driver is only man who can take the title from Makeš´s hands during last round in Brno. Battle for third place still includes five drivers.
The penultimate round of the 2021 TCR Eastern Europe season again shuffled cards in the championship fight. Before start of the weekend, Tomáš Pekař led the standings by six points ahead of second Michal Makeš. But after the Slovakian round, it´s again Michal Makeš who is in the best position. The Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra driver scored 12 points for 4th place in Race 1. In Race 2, he took 25 points for victory. He is leading the championship by 25 points ahead of Pekař now.
Tomáš Pekař had a bad luck at Slovakiaring. Although he set the second fastest time in qualifying, his appearance in this session ended already in Lap 2 after he went off the track because of technical issues. In addition, repair of his car didn´t finish in time before Race 1 and he couldn´t start. In Race 2, he began from last 13th place. He was able to move to third place, but he went off the track after that and finished only 7th. But his hopes are still alive. There are still 55 points in the game before last two races at Automotodrom Brno. In addition, two worst results will be deleted after the season.
Tomáš Pekař will enter the last round of the season with loss of 25 points behind Michal Makeš. Photo: Petr Frýba
Five drivers in the fight for third position
Only Michal Makeš and Tomáš Pekař have a chance to achieve the championship title before the final round of the season. But the battle for overall third place will be very exciting as well. There are five drivers who have at least mathematical chance to finish on bronze place.
Carol Wittke is closest to this position. The Fullinrace Academy driver scored 104 points so far. But the ESET Race Star supported driver Bartosz Groszek shone since his debut in Poznan and is on the fourth place with loss of only four points to Wittke. Fifth Sebastian Steibel (95 points), sixth Milovan Vesnić (68 points) and seventh Tomasz Rzepecki (56 points) also have a chance to finish on overall third place from mathematical point of view.
Carol Wittke is on the third place before the last round. Photo: Petr Frýba
From zero to eighth place for Karklys
One of the brightest stars of the weekend at Slovakiaring was Jonas Karklys. The Lithuanian made his TCR Eastern Europe debut with Hyundai i30 N TCR of his own team NordPass. And he was very successful. He took victory in his very first race and he was again on the podium in Race 2. He finished second there. He scored 44 points and suddenly is on the 8th place of the championship standings. Lukasz Stolarczyk (40 points) is on the ninth place and Giacomo Ghermandi (39 points) closes top ten.
Jonas Karklys experienced an amazing TCR Eastern Europe debut. Photo: Petr Frýba
Last two races of the season at Automotodrom Brno, that will decide who will achieve the title and third place, will take place on the weekend from third to fifth of September.
Opening photo: Petr Frýba
