It’s been a crazy Race 2 at Hockenheim, as the rain, falling with varying intensity and not everywhere, reshuffled the cards right after the start, but despite the incidents and two safety car periods, the winners are far from being a surprise. Not scared by the British-like weather, the Toms made it again, clinching their fifth win of the season. Emson and Lebbon, in the Elite Motorsport Ferrari, even extended their lead in the standings up to 23 points, as their direct rivals did not have a good day.
“It was a difficult race”, said the Toms, “because the rain kept changing. Sector 3 was basically dry, but sector 2 was tricky, and at each lap, you wouldn’t know what the wettest corner was.”
The Greystone GT McLarens took second and third, with Alejandro Geppert-McKenzy Cresswell and Zac Meakin-Dean Macdonald, the latter being the only title challengers limiting the damage.
The fight ws intense in the Pro-Am class and finished with a much-awaited and deserved maiden win in the series for Michaël Blanchemain and Jim Pla in the Saintéloc Audi, while in Am, the various incidents yielded a winning debut for the debuting Polish outfit Förch Racing and its Porsche, entrusted to Jakub Dwernicki and Tomasz Magdziarz.
THE RACE – Fontana is in pole for the second time this season, but at the start it is Emson on the outside of the front row, having the better launch. At first braking, though, the two collide with the Porsche going into a spin off-track before rejoining at the back of the field. Simultaneously, some drops of rain start to fall, making the track slippery. Adam, who spins, is the first victim of the conditions.
By lap 2, Emson leads, but the fight is intense with Fch, Mosca and Götz. Basz, fifth, leads the rest of the pack ahead of Geppert, Kell, Testa, Salaquarda and Renmans. In lap 4, again at the first corner, another contact involved Mosca and Fach, with the Porsche spinning.
By lap 7, Emson is leading ahead of Mosca, Götz, Geeppert, Basz, Kell, Testa, Salaquarda and Renmans. In a recovery mission, Fach is 10th and Fontana 15th. Osman leads in Am. In lap 10, the rain seems to strengthen, and a number of cars go wide on turn 6, including Emson, who leaves the lead to Mosca, and Meakin. It’s more serious for Lewandowski and Monegro, who both hit the barriers in turn 8. As the entire track gets wet, full course yellow is shown in lap 12, while waiting for the imminent opening of the pit stop window to change tyres, something not everybody does.
The window closes in lap 18, but the safety car stays two laps more. At restart, on a completely wet track, Lebbon is quick to pass Durán and take the lead, with Cresswell in third ahead of Jedlinski, Schwarzer, Macdonald, Mansell, Kell and Milota. The racing does not last much, as Hahn (on slicks) hits the wall, forcing the redeployment of the safety car, while Armanni is forced to the stands.
As the race resumes a few minutes from the flag, it’s again a festival of slipping cars, with Mansell, Wolf, Milota, Pla and Moncini going off track, but it’s great fighting at the top. Lebbon keeps the advantage ahead of Cresswell and Macdonald, with a trio of Pro-Am cars in full fight behind them. It’s Pla taking the victory in the second class, beating Schwarzer and Kell. In Am, Magdziarz wins ahead of Hernández and Wolf.
