PCCF – Portimão: Klein wins the C1 and takes control of the general

Did Marvin Klein deliver the fatal blow? In any case, the CLRT driver did everything well this Saturday in Portimão. A very good start and a regular pace allowed him to win race 1. The 3rd place of Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras) also gave him the lead in the championship. With 3 points ahead, the Varois is in the best position before the C2 this Sunday. 

Au départ, Alessandro Ghiretti (Martinet by Alméras) s’envole une nouvelle fois de la meilleure des manières. Les quatre premiers se présentent à quatre de front au virage 1. L’Espoir Porsche, à l’intérieur, doit freiner plus tôt pour éviter le contact avec Marvin Klein (CLRT). Ce dernier prend les commandes de la course devant Florian Latorre (CLRT) et Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras), et s’échappe immédiatement en tête de la course. Ces deux pilotes se rendent coup pour coup au début du 2e secteur. L’ancien leader du championnat cède et reste 3e.

Behind, Alessandro Ghiretti makes contact with Gianmarco Quaresmini (Ombra Racing). A collision which will force the two men to stop in the pits and retire, after only a few minutes of racing. On the 3rd lap of the race, Ugo Gazil (Pierre Martinet by Alméras) touched Victor Blugeon (ABM) and spun at turn 13. This maneuver earned him a drive through penalty. 

In the first third of the race, the pace of the CLRTs is impressive. Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras) struggles to follow, he is quickly relegated to 5 seconds behind the leaders. In the peloton, the battle rages in Pro-Am. Nicolas Misslin (BWT Lechner Racing) is under pressure from Christophe Stone (Pierre Martinet by Alméras). The driver of the No. 911 confirms his breathtaking pace since the start of the weekend and passes the Monegasque after 13 minutes of racing. Jérôme Boullery (YDEO) is further behind, a bad operation in his quest for the title. 

10 minutes from the end of C1, the penalties fall for non-compliance with track limits. In the Pro-Am, the two leaders Christophe Lapierre (Pierre Martinet by Alméras) and Nicolas Misslin (BWT Lechner Racing) have 5 seconds added to their final time. A few moments later, at the top of the ranking, Florian Latorre (CLRT) puts pressure on his teammate. Less than a second separates the two men. In the end, CLRT achieves the double in front of Dorian Boccolacci (Martinet by Alméras), who dominates the rookie category. Cooper Murray (Pierre Martinet by Alméras) and Evan Spenle (CLRT) complete the top 5. 

In Pro-Am, Christophe Lapierre (Pierre Martinet by Alméras) returns to the championship thanks to his victory in the category. Despite his penalty, he is ahead of Raymonde Narac (IMSA) and Nicolas Misslin (BWT Lechner Racing). Everything will be decided this Sunday and there are still three of them who can claim the title. In the Am category, Sébastien Dussoliet (ABM) won his second victory of the season. The two title contenders Tugdual Rabreau (CLRT) and Maxence Maurice (IMSA Performance) complete the podium. 

The suspense remains intact in the various categories. The PCCF will know its outcome tomorrow at the end of C2, to be followed from 12:45 p.m.