An outstanding three-way battle for the lead highlighted the first ELITE 2 race of the Brands Hatch American SpeedFest and it was Stienes Longin (#11 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) who came out the winner over Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) and Salvador Tineo Arroyo (#54 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) to grab his fifth consecutive win of the 2016 season.
“It is unbelievable! I cannot describe how I feel now. I had a good start and immediately took first. Tineo braked a little bit earlier than usual and I was able to pass him on the outside. I really struggled with my car throughout the race, it was not our best set up but I was able to keep Tineo and Ferrando in my rear view for the rest of the race. I am really, really happy: 5 out of 5, it is just crazy!” said the Belgian, who will aim to tie a Series record for consecutive wins tomorrow.
With a track still drying from the rain that fell hard after the ELITE 1 race, the belgian made an outstanding start from the outside to take the lead from the pole sitter Tineo Arroyo. The Spaniard tried in every possible way to replicate for the next 11 laps, while Gabriele Gardel (#24 PK Carsport Chevrolet SS) and Thomas Ferrando (#37 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang) battled for third. A contact between the Swiss and the Frenchman triggered a caution that bunched up the field behind the Whelen Pace Car until lap 19 and sent Gardel into the barriers on the backstretch.
On restart Ferrando took advantage of the inside line to take second from Tineo and the trio engaged in a nail-biting battle as the race unfolded. Longin was able to fend off every attack and took the checkered flag with a .734 seconds margin on Ferrando and Tineo.
Guillaume Deflandre (#56 CAAL Racing Chevrolet SS) won a hard battle for fourth over Hugo Bec (#3 Tepac RDV Compétition Ford Mustang) and Eric De Doncker (#98 Motorsport 98 Ford Mustang), who won the Legend Trophy classification. Riccardo Geltrude (#7 Double-T by Nocentini Ford Mustang) ended up seventh and brought home the Rookie Cup coming from eleventh on the grid. Christian Malcharek took the eighth place ahead of Paul Guiod (#73 Knauf Racing Team Ford Mustang), who collected his first career top-10. Jerry De Weerdt (#78 Brass Racing Ford Mustang) rounded out the top-10.
The Lady Cup went to Erika Monforte (#6 Double-T by Nocentini Ford Mustang) thanks to her 16th place under the checkered flag.
Just like his teammate Alon Day in ELITE 1, Tineo Arroyo will start from the pole tomorrow at 3:50 pm GMT (4:50 pm CET, 10:50 am EST) for the ELITE 2 Race 2. The race will be streamed live on Fanschoice.tv (http://bit.ly/nweslive) and will close the American SpeedFest weekend at Brands Hatch, UK.
ELITE 2 RACE 1 RESULTS | RACE CENTRAL LIVE | LIVE STREAMING
Credits: NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Ste
