Paffet masters Ekström

Oliver Jarvis came close to the feat. With an Audi A4 less advanced than its competitors, the Briton managed to take the lead on the starting grid on Saturday. And despite the pressure from Paffett and Spengler behind him, Jarvis was able to take off while maintaining his position. From the start of the race, Paffett was pressing and looking for the slightest opportunity to take the lead. Behind, Prémat, who started 6th, made a very good start to the race and placed himself in 4th position. Far from it, Ekström, starting from 9th place, grabbed the positions and moved to 6th place on the 5th lap. As Paffett attempted to pass Jarvis at every turn, the two men returned to the pits, before the majority of drivers did. Ekström took advantage of these stops to take the lead and make several fast laps.

While the Swede delayed his first pit stop, Jarvis was able to maintain his advantage over Paffett at the pit exit. But, going wide on the 15th lap, he was overtaken by his compatriot and decided to make his second pit stop. On the 20th lap, the two leading men, Ekström and Engel, finally stopped, just as Prémat and Scheider made their second stop. After everyone had pitted twice, Paffett logically regained the lead, ahead of Jarvis, Prémat and Ekström on the 30th lap.

If Jarvis loses ground on Paffett, Ekström overtakes Prémat and moves into 3rd position behind the Briton. Much faster, the Swede passes in front and inherits second place. Prémat, in a hurry with Tomczyk, must protect his 4th place, while Ekström has already knocked him off the podium. The Swede is even close to joining Paffett, having a higher pace. But the Briton kept his position and won. With two victories, he occupies the lead in the general classification, two points ahead of his runner-up of the day.

At the end of the race, four Audi drivers were excluded: Markus Winkelhock, Christian Bakkerud, Alexandre Prémat and Timo Scheider. Winkelhock finished the race with less than a liter of gasoline in his tank, Bakkerud did not show up for the weigh-in after the race and Prémat and Scheider showed up too late. For the Frenchman, it's five points that fly away and the scoumoune that continues.