Ferenc Ficza takes joint lead after round eight
In a nutshell
Ferenc Ficza secured his second victory in the SEAT Leon Eurocup after rounds seven and eight at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium last weekend. The Hungarian driver is now joint top of the standings tied with Stian Paulsen of Norway on 44 points.
Watch action from the weekend below.
Race one – Saturday
In Saturday’s race, Frenchman Julien Briché claimed his first win so far this year. After dominating the morning’s qualifying session, the JSB Competition driver made a clean start to the race while Paulsen and Stefano Comini battled for position.
Gabor Weber soon joined in to make it a three-way battle but contact between the three meant an end to the race for both Comini and Weber.
As the race restarted, Briché led ahead of Paulsen with Manuel Giao in third. With two laps to go, Briché looked set to take the win and he soon crossed the line to claim his and the team’s first victory, followed by Paulsen and Giao in second and third places. Paulsen was later demoted to 18th place following a 30-second penalty for the previous incident.
Race two – Sunday
Sunday’s race was a long battle between Ficza and Paulsen. Ficza had a strong start from the front of the grid and stayed side-by-side with pole-sitter Pol Rosell through the first few corners before Paulsen passed to take the lead.
Paulsen kept the lead for most of the race while Ficza remained on his tail. The Hungarian caught up on the final lap, and the pair exited the last corner of the legendary circuit side-by-side. Ficza managed to pass the Norwegian to cross the line 0.144 seconds ahead and claim his second victory of the season.
After the race, a one-second penalty was issued against Ficza for contact in the last corner, but Gaspar Racing has appealed and the decision is expected in the coming weeks.&
Standings
Pending the decision of the appeal, Ficza is now joint leader of the SEAT Leon Eurocup with 44 points, tying with Paulsen.
The next two races of the season will take place on 26 and 28 September, at the Italian circuit of Monza.
Race one results
- Julien Briché (#2), JSB Competition
- Manuel Giao (#5), Baporo Motorsport
- Pol Rosell (#12), Baporo Motorsport
- Norbert Tóth (#47), Gaspar Racing
- Ferenc Ficza (#55), Gaspar Racing
- Jordi Oriola (#33), Target Competition
- Lorenzo Veglia (#7), Target Competition
- Joan Vinyes (#99), Baporo Motorsport
- Marcos De Diego (#20), Pujolar Racing
- Fran Rueda (#28), Monlau Competición
- Alex Carbonell (#4), Monlau Competición
- Jose Monroy (#88), Veloso Motorsport
- Juergen Schmarl (#11), Target Competition
- Stéphane Kox (#24), Target Competition
- Marco Pellegrini (#67), Dinamic SRL
- Edina Bus (#87), B3 Racing
- Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition
- Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing
- Dejan Bulatović (#26), Target Competition
- Amalia Vinyes (#13), Baporo Motorsport
- Stefano Zanini (#69), Dinamic SRL
- Mladen Lalušić (#17), Lein Racing
Not classified
- Stefano Comini (#25), Target Competition
- Gabor Weber (#1), B3 Racing
- Antonio Martinez (#54), Pujolar Racing
Race two results
- Ferenc Ficza (#55), Gaspar Racing
- Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing
- Pol Rosell (#12), Baporo Motorsport
- Norbert Tóth (#47), Gaspar Racing
- Fran Rueda (#28), Monlau Competición
- Gabor Weber (#1), B3 Racing
- Julien Briché (#2), JSB Competition
- Antonio Martinez (#54), Pujolar Racing
- Jordi Oriola (#33), Target Competition
- Alex Carbonell (#4), Monlau Competición
- Jose Monroy (#88), Veloso Motorsport
- Manuel Giao (#5), Baporo Motorsport
- Joan Vinyes (#99), Baporo Motorsport
- Marcos De Diego (#20), Pujolar Racing
- Juergen Schmarl (#11), Target Competition
- Marco Pellegrini (#67), Dinamic SRL
- Edina Bus (#87), B3 Racing
- Stéphane Kox (#24), Target Competition
- Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition
- Stefano Zanini (#69), Dinamic SRL
- Dejan Bulatović (#26), Lein Racing
- Mladen Lalušić (#17), Lein Racing
- Lorenzo Veglia (#7), Target Competition
Not classified
- Stefano Comini (#25), Target Competition
- Amalia Vinyes (#13), Baporo Motorsport