The “Race to the First OK-N World Cup” OK-NJ Prefinal started in sunny conditions but with a cooler temperature of 17 degrees.
After two formation laps Felipe Reijs (KR/IAME) jumped into the lead ahead of poleman Dean Hoogendoorn (KR/IAME) and Jesse Phillips (KR/IAME) and Bruno Gryc (Parolin/TM). Asher Ochstein (CRG/TM) was fastest and overtook Gryc on lap 3. Phillips passed Hoogendoorn for 2nd which gave Reijs some breathing space, while Ochstein also started to put pressure on Hoogendoorn. Iskender Zulfikari (KR/IAME) had moved up nine places by mid-race into the top ten.
Phillips closed on Reijs and took the lead on lap 8, but Reijs continued to attack. Six drivers were now in the lead group and fighting for the lead. Ochstein took 3rd from Hoogendoorn.
Hoogendoorn set the fastest lap of the race but couldn’t repass Ochstein and was under pressure from Bosco Chavarri Arias, so the race finished with Phillips winning by almost 4 tenths from Reijs, Ochstein, Hoogendoorn, Arias and Gryc. Zulfikari had moved up to 7th.
Provisional results pending publication of the final rankings.
Info Kartcom / Photo © KSP