Josh Files wins Oschersleben Race 2 after nail-biting final lap
A very spectacular and incident-packed Race 2 at Oschersleben saw Josh Files win the race after a last-lap overtake, claiming a great win in TCR Germany from tenth on the grid. The Target Competition driver came home ahead of Bas Koeten Racing’s Bas Schouten, who started from the back of the grid, with Tim Zimmermann completing the podium for Liqui Moly Team Engstler on a damp track.
Although the race started in dry conditions, a very light rain soon began to fall. At the start Mike Beckhausen stalled as Antti Buri took the lead away from Dominik Fugel and Zimmermann. As the rain began to fall, the second lap saw multiple contacts at Turn 1 and Turn 3, the latter resulting in Pascal Eberle retiring due to damage after a contact with Benjamin Leuchter and Jurgen Schmarl.
The safety car was then deployed. At the restart, Buri retained the lead despite some peculiar moves at the last corner as more cars went off due to the slippery track. Both Files and Schouten started making up places quite quickly, as with nine minutes to go Antti Buri lost the lead, seemingly due to a technical issue, with the Finn slowing down before picking up pace again.
Another safety car was deployed with seven minutes to go, allowing Files, who was now up to second, to close a 1.9 second gap to Zimmermann. At the restart the Volkswagen driver fought for the lead ahead of Files as Steve Kirsch attacked the Brit for second at Turn 3. The result was not what the German had hoped for though, as the two made contact and the Honda Team ADAC Civic went off. Files received a black and white warning flag for the incident.
By the time the last lap came, the top five were very close , in theory all in with a shot at winning the race. Buri suffered again from a problem and slipped down to sixth, whereas Files was very determined to take the lead. He did so by passing through the grass on the back straight, making his move stick into the chicane. Behind the duo was Bas Schouten, who made the most out of the situation and with a slight touch also passed Zimmermann to claim second.
Mike Halder was fourth for Liqui Moly Team Engstler, ahead of Harald Proczyk. Buri finished sixth ahead of Ronny Jost’s SEAT, with Jurgen Schmarl in eighth for Target Competition. Steve Kirsch recovered from his earlier off to claim ninth ahead of Tom Lautenschlager.
Josh Files now leads the championship by five points over Proczyk, with Steve Kirsch a further 26 adrift. Next up for TCR Germany is Red Bull Ring, Austria, on July 24th.
