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Michal Makeš achieved third victory of the season in Race 2 at Slovakiaring. The Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra driver crossed the line as second behind Sebastian Steibel, but the German was penalized by jump start. Jonas Karklys took second place and Bartosz Groszek was third. Tomáš Pekař was able to move from last place to third position, but he had to settle with 7th place after trip to the gravel in final phase of the race.
The best nine drivers from Race 1 started in reversed order to Race 2. Sebastian Steibel was on pole position ahead of second Petr Čížek and third Radim Adámek. Yesterday’s winner Jonas Karklys was ninth and the championship leader Michal Makeš started sixth. Tomáš Pekař didn’t have an easy job ahead of him. After yesterday’s absence, he started from last 13th place.
Giacomo Ghermandi was in troubles already before the start. Some technical problems appeared on his Cupra Leon Competición TCR and he had to start from pitlane.
Giacomo Ghermandi had a complicated start of the race. Photo: Petr Frýba
After start, Steibel kept first place. Jonas Karklys and Michal Makeš had a very good start to the race. Karklys moved to second and Makeš to third. Tomáš Pekař also made a solid progress. After start from last, He was already fifth after Lap 1 behind fourth Radim Adámek. Petr Čížek and Sanel Cehic had a very slow start and dropped to back positions.
In Lap 3, progress of Tomáš Pekař continued. He passed Radim Adámek and was fourth. He held fastest lap at that time and he could start with chasing of his main championship rival Michal Makeš. But the Mičánek Motorsport powered by Buggyra driver also gained one position. He moved ahead of Karklys and was on second place.
Jonas Karklys was again in the fight for top positions. Photo: Petr Frýba
But the race was red-flagged in Lap 3. It happened because of a huge crash of Žárko Knego. Fortunately, the Croatian was able to get out of the car on your own.
Sebastian Steibel had pole position also for restart. Jonas Karklys returned to second because the valid order for restart grid was order after Lap 2. Michal Makeš was third. Tomáš Pekař dropped to fifth place behind the fourth Radim Adámek.
The length of the race was adjusted to 13 minutes. After one lap behind safety car, Steibel stayed on first place. But there was one important complication for the German. He recieved penalty of ten seconds because of jump start. Steibel stayed first, but results behind him changed. Makeš moved to second ahead of Karklys. Tomáš Pekař also gained one place. He returned ahead of Adámek and was fourth.
Sebastian Steibel lost his premiere victory in TCR Eastern Europe because of jump start. Photo: Petr Frýba
It didn’t take long and Pekař was third. The Carpek Service driver passed Karklys, his former teammate from Clio Cup races. In the meantime, Tomasz Rzepecki retired from Race 2.
But around four minutes to go, Tomáš Pekař was in troubles. He went off the track and dropped to eighth place. Karklys moved back to the third place.
Sebastian Steibel kept first place and crossed the line as first. But he lost several positions because of his penalty and it meant that Michal Makeš inherited victory. Race 1 winner Jonas Karklys was classified as second and third Bartosz Groszek achieved another podium. Carol Wittke was fourth, Sebastian Steibel dropped to fifth, Radim Adámek finished sixth, Tomáš Pekař was seventh in the end, Sanel Cehic eighth, René Martinek ninth and Petr Čížek took one point for 10th position.
Bartosz Groszek achieved another podium. Photo: Petr Frýba
Giacomo Ghermandi managed to finish on 9th place despite his pitlane start. But he was penalized for collision with Petr Čížek by 30 seconds after the race and dropped to 11th position.
The last round of the 2021 TCR Eastern Europe season will take place on the weekend from third to fifth of September at Automotodrom Brno. Michal Makeš will enter it as a championship leader with 25 points lead ahead of Tomáš Pekař.
Opening photo: Petr Frýba
