On the Paul Armagnac Nogaro circuit, Dane Lasse Sorensen, who set the two quickest times in qualifying yesterday, scored another victory tightening his stranglehold on the championship even further. He led home his main rivals in the title chase Frenchman Dorian Boccolacci and Anglo-Swiss Felix Hirsiger.
On a cool morning soon replaced by warm sunshine, the crowd saw the first race of the weekend in the Gers with the championship front-runners on the first few rows.
The leader Lasse Sorensen was on pole thanks to his speed in quaifying with Dorian Boccolacci alongside him. Felix Hirsiger and Mexicain Patricio O’Ward shared row two while on the third were Valentin Hasse Clot friom France and Russian Denis Bulatov.
All 24 cars got away without a hitch and Sorensen kept his advantage over Boccolacci. O’Ward tried to attack Hirsiger who managed to hold on to third. After the start, which is always a tricky moment, everybody completed lap 1 without contact. Boccolacci did his best to hang on to Sorensen who was already opening up a gap.
On the first lap Joseph Mawson got past Swiss Paul Hokfelt Jr to take eighth place, while Amaury Richard snatched thirteenth from Reuben Kressner. Richard moved up another place next time round by passing Niclas Nylund.
Up front, Sorensen continued to pull away opening up a 3-second gap over Boccolacci who had his work cut out fending off Hirsiger, himself under pressure from O’Ward.
With the exception of Sorensen the battle among the top 10 was quite intense. Russian Vladimir Atoev overtook Hokfelt Jr on lap 6.
Behind the first three the gaps began to close as Hasse Clot, Bulatov and Valentin Moineault went at it hammer and tongs for fifth. A little further back Swiss David Droux and Bryan Elpitiya from France swapped 16th spot.
With two-thirds of the race gone none of Sorensen’s rivals was able to match his pace, and he had a comfortable lead from Boccolaci in second place.
Belgian Max Defourny continued his apprenticeship and slipped by Hokfelt Jr to break into the top 10.
Battle raged between Richard, Kressner, Finn Simo Laaksonen and Droux for 12th position. Hasse Clot and Bulatov were locked in an intense scrap for fifth in the closing stages of the race with Moineault waiting to pounce on the slightest mistake by his rivals.
There were no changes among the leaders until the chequered flag and Sorensen scored another dominant victory. He finished in front of Boccolaci, who had a good race, and Hirsiger who resisted the pressure from O’Ward throughout the heat.
Completing the top 10 were Hasse Clot, Bulatov, Moineault, Vladimir Atoev, Mawson and Defourny (who will start on pole for race 2).
Rendezvous for race 2: Saturday 27th September at 15h25
Quotes
Lasse Sorensen: “I made a great start. Right away I tried to open up a gap over my nearest rivals and to keep this distance throughout the race. I’m very happy with this victory.”
Dorian Boccolacci: “I tried to catch Sorensen at the start because I knew it was my only hope of hanging on to him. He immediately got into a good rhythm and he was quicker than me. Felix was quite far behind so I was able to concentrate on my lines. I’m going to try and make a good start in the next race from ninth place and score the maximum number of points.“
Felix Hirsiger: “I had a difficult start with Patricio just behind me. I closed the door on several occasions to prevent him from overtaking me. Then on the last lap Anouck held me up and Patricio caught me, but again I was able to stop him from getting past. I’m delighted to have held on to third and to be on the podium.”
Info Auto Sport Academy / © Photo KSP