Stefano Comini takes the lead after round six
In a nutshell
Stefano Comini grabbed the lead in the SEAT Leon Eurocup after rounds five and six at Silverstone last weekend. A win in the second race pushed Swiss driver Comini past previous points leader Stian Paulsen of Norway.
Watch action from the weekend below.
Race one – Saturday
In Saturday’s race, Gaspar Racing’s Ferenc Ficza won his first SEAT Leon Eurocup race of the season in a commanding manner. He started from pole and led every lap of the race. Paulsen was second, extending his lead, and Pujolar Racing’s Antonio Martínez crossed the line third.
It looked like Baporo Motorsport’s Pol Rosell was going to be able to challenge Ficza for the lead, but after the first six laps the Spaniard started to lose ground and fell back to fifth.
There were only three laps to go and Ficza was well ahead with a five second advantage over Paulsen, who was busy trying to keep Martínez and Comini behind. Target Competition’s Jordi Oriola was trying to do the same with Julien Briché, but their battle ended with the Spaniard Oriola abandoning the race due to car damage.
Race two – Sunday
In a frantic start to Sunday’s race, Martínez got off the line quickest to steal the lead from Stefano Zanini and Rosell.
Briché, who was starting from the back of the grid, tagged another car into turn one, causing him to spin off the track and barrel roll into the barriers. Fortunately, the Frenchman was not injured.
Martínez was looking strong until a collision loosened his entire rear bumper in the early stages of the race and he was black-flagged.
Later in the race, Target Competition’s Comini stormed ahead and opened a two-second gap on Rosell, as a good battle developed for the final points positions between Oriola, newcomer Norbert Tóth and Pujolar Racing’s Marcos de Diego.
Comini crossed the line nearly four seconds ahead of Rosell, winning his second race of the season and snatching the series lead from Paulsen.
Standings
Comini now leads the SEAT Leon Eurocup with 36 points, only one point ahead of Paulsen.
The next two races of the season will take place on 6 and 7 September, at the Belgian circuit of Spa-Francorchamps.
Race one results
De Diego Leon Eurocup Silverstone 2014
- Ferenc Ficza (#55), Gaspar Racing
- Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing
- Antonio Martínez (#54), Pujolar Racing
- Stefano Comini (#25) Target Competition
- Marcos de Diego (#20), Pujolar Racing
- Pol Rosell (#12), Baporo Motorsport
- Manuel Giao (#5), Baporo Motorsport
- Julien Briché (#2), JSB Competition
- Fran Rueda (#28), Monlau Competición
- Norbert Tóth (#47), Gaspar Racing
- Jose Monroy (#88), Veloso Motorsport
- Alex Carbonell (#4), Monlau Competición
- Amalia Vinyes (#13), Baporo Motorsport
- Stefano Zanini (#69), Dinamic
- Marco Pellegrini (#67), Marco Pellegrini
- Edina Bus (#87), B3 Racing
- Jaume Font Casas (#3), Monlau Competición
- Piers Ward (#91), SEAT Sport
- Lorenzo Veglia (#7), Target Competition
- Jordi Oriola (#33), Target Competition
- Juergen Schmarl (#11), Target Competition
Not classified
- Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition
- Gabor Wéber (#1), B3 Racing
Race two results
- Stefano Comini (#25) Target Competition
- Pol Rosell (#12), Baporo Motorsport
- Gabor Wéber (#1), B3 Racing
- Manuel Giao (#5), Baporo Motorsport
- Ferenc Ficza (#55), Gaspar Racing
- Marcos de Diego (#20), Pujolar Racing
- Jordi Oriola (#33), Target Competition
- Fran Rueda (#28), Monlau Competición
- Amalia Vinyes (#13), Baporo Motorsport
- Jose Monroy (#88), Veloso Motorsport
- Alex Carbonell (#4), Monlau Competición
- Norbert Tóth (#47), Gaspar Racing
- Stefano Zanini (#69), Dinamic
- Juergen Schmarl (#11), Target Competition
- Marie Baus-Coppens (#21), JSB Competition
- Lorenzo Veglia (#7), Target Competition
- Edina Bus (#87), B3 Racing
- Jaume Font Casas (#3), Monlau Competición
- Marco Pellegrini (#67), Marco Pellegrini
- Stian Paulsen (#34), Stian Paulsen Racing
Not classified
- Antonio Martínez (#54), Pujolar Racing
- Julien Briché (#2), JSB Competition
- Piers Ward (#91), SEAT Sport