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Sunday’s race of TCR Eastern Europe at Autodrom Most offered spectacular racing under wet conditions. Adam Kout claimed his first victory of the season, while Maťo Homola finished second and secured the championship title. Giacomo Ghermandi crossed the finish line in third place.
Due to the wet track and light rain, the race started behind the safety car, with Giacomo Ghermandi leading the field under the green flag in his Audi. The start was safe, with all drivers navigating the first chicane without incident. Ghermandi held the lead but went off track in the middle part of the circuit, significantly cutting the track. This incident was investigated by the stewards, but no further action was taken.
Kout, driving a Hyundai, quickly overtook Petr Fulín Jr. in the Cupra to move into second place. Homola, following in the footsteps of his teammate, also made his way to the front and secured third place. Fulín Jr. held fourth position, ahead of René Kircher, who dropped from fourth to fifth.
In a thrilling move, Kout attacked Ghermandi in the second-to-last corner and took the lead, resulting in some paint swapping between their cars. Yesterday’s winner, Petr Fulín in an Audi, swiftly made his way through the field and was running in third place in the middle of the race, ready to challenge Ghermandi for second. There was contact between them, but Fulín accelerated faster out of the chicane and secured the position behind the race leader, Adam Kout.
Homola also attempted to overtake Ghermandi, but it was clear that he wasn’t willing to risk a dangerous maneuver. He waited for his opportunity, which eventually came in the middle sector, allowing him to move up to third place.
In the ninth lap, Fulín made an opportunistic move on Adam Kout in the first chicane, hitting the left side of Kout’s car. Kout slid but managed to keep his car on the track and continued in the lead. Fulín’s Audi sustained damage to the front left suspension and had to retire from the race.
Kout ultimately secured his first victory of the season, with his teammate, Maťo Homola, finishing second. Homola’s 58 point lead over Kircher means that the Slovakian racer cannot be overtaken in the championship standings, making him the new TCR Eastern Europe champion for 2023.
Ghermandi achieved his first podium finish of the season, while Davit Kajaia finished in fourth place. Petr Fulín Jr. was on course for fifth place but spun in the last corner of the final lap. Carlo Czepiel, driving a Hyundai, moved up to fifth, René Kircher crossed the finish line sixth, but received 10 seconds penalty and dropped to eight place, so Fulín Jr. regain sixth place in the final results, Žarko Knego secured seventh place, Kircher was as mentioned eight. Petr Čížek continued his points streak with a ninth-place finish. Carol Wittke rounded out the top ten.
Carlo Czepiel is the winner of the Junior class, with René Kircher finishing second.
