Ricardo van der Ende first winner in TC France in Nogaro

The very first race of the French FFSA Tourism Championship on the Nogaro circuit saw the victory of the BMW M2 CS Racing – Ricardo van der Ende’s Welcome Area, dominating from start to finish this Sunday.

The start saw the poleman maintain the advantage of his reference time from morning qualifying, while Steven Palette (BMW M2 CS Racing – VSF) slipped into second position at the Ferme corner.

However, a clash between the BMW – VSF of Lucca Brizzi and the Peugeot 308 RC – JSB of Frédéric Caprasse eliminates both drivers and forces the intervention of the safety car.

The two BMWs of van der Ende and Palette remained in the lead after the restart, before the race was once again neutralized following the collision between Pierre-Arnaud Navarro (Peugeot 308 RC – JSB) and Lucas Frayssinet (Alpine A110 Cup – Chazel).

The Dutch leader can then continue his march forward, while Florian Briché (Peugeot 308 RC – JSB) finally takes the advantage over Steven Palette less than five minutes from the checkered flag to fail less than 1″5 behind van der End under the checkerboard.

Steven Palette completed the podium after visibly suffering at the end of the race, but having benefited from the fight between Kévin Ropars (Peugeot 308 RC – Ropars Racing Team) and Xavier Guyonnet (Peugeot 308 RC – TSM Racing by GM Sport).

In TCA1, victory went to the Peugeot RCZ – Runner for Ever of Julien Jacob-Cano, while Julien Carli won in TCA2 at the wheel of his Renault Clio Cup IV – GM Sport. Viny Beltramelli (Peugeot 208 RC – Ropars Racing Team) wins in TCA Light.

The second TC France race at Nogaro will start tomorrow at 17:05 p.m.