Local hero won the first race in Georgia
Written by: Fanni Váradi | Photo: TCR |
The show was quite exciting on the first race of TCR Season 2017 in Georgia.
Davit Kajaia won in front of interior audience with his Alfa Romeo of GE-Force. With only some tenth of seconds Zele Racing’s Ficza Ferenc finished behind him followed by two times champion Stefano Comini. The grid’s rookie Attila Tassi finished fifth with the M1RA-Honda.
Local hero Davit Kajaia took pole position on Saturday’s qualifying session in front of 2 Hungarian drivers, namely the M1RA-Honda driver Attila Tassi and Zele Racing’s guest driver, Ferenc Ficza.
Kajaia started very well, but so did the 2 Hungarians behind him, thus there was no change in top 3 followed by the start. Int he back of the grid, Roberto Colciago overtook Jean Karl Vernay, and passed by the M1RA’s Civic for 4th place. Stefano Comini’s closing up was an interesting event of the first few laps. Last 2 years’ champion overtook first Vernay, then Colciago. The Comtoyou Racing’s Audi fall into line with the top3.
On the sixth lap the 2 Hungarians changed position. Int he rainy conditions Attila Tassi seemed to be a bit slower, which meant overtaking position for the current third driver Ferenc Ficza, who used his speed and overtook Tassi. The 17 years old M1RA driver lost another position a lap later, when Comini could overcome as. Tassi struggled with wet conditions, and on the 9th lap Colciago overtook him as well.
During the last laps, an exciting battle started between 4 different brands, namely Alfa Romeo, SEAT, Audi and Honda’s four drivers Kajaia, Ficza, Comini and Colgiago were fighting for the victory.
Ferenc Ficza was very close to the leader Kajaia, in spite of trying several times, the Hungarian driver could not overtake, which meant win for the local hero Davit Kajaia, who scored his first ever victory of his career. Ficza finished second in front of Comini. Michelisz Norbert WTCC driver’s own team, which made its debut here, finished with double point scoring as Colciaco finished fourth while Tassi fifth in front of Craft-Bamboo’s Spanish driver Pepe Oriola. West Coast Racing’s rookie, the 16 years old Giacomo Altoé finished 8th on his debut race before Dusan Borkovic, and his teammate Gianni Morbidelli.
On the second race Altoé starts from pole position, followed by the Craft Bamboo drivers Pepe Oriola and Hugo Valente.
After one race Kajaia leads the championship with 30 points, before Ficza Ferenc and Comini.