Norbert Michelisz takes comfortable win in Race 1 at Zandvoort

Norbert Michelisz won the first race of the day at Zandvoort in the TCR Benelux Touring Car Championship, jumping into the lead from fourth on the grid in his Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic TCR at the start while his team-mate and pole-sitter Tiago Monteiro was out with a technical issue.

Monteiro immediately slowed after the launch and pulled over to the right, briefly holding up the Milo Racing Volkswagen Golf of Vincent Radermecker, which allowed Michelisz a clear run around the outside into Tarzan and into the lead.

Michelisz then began to pull away from Radermecker, who was holding up the chasing Delahaye Racing Volkswagen of Amaury Richard for two laps. Richard was able to make his move on lap two to take the spot, but by now Michelisz had already built a three second gap.

Ronnie Latinne then overtook his Team WRT team-mate Sam Dejonghe for fourth, with the SEAT driver soon in the pits with a technical issue.

The final stage of the race was about the fight for sixth between the Boutsen Ginion Honda of Benjamin Lessennes, who’d started last after missing the qualifying race, and the Delahaye SEAT of Guillaume Mondron, with Lessennes making the pass on the final lap.

Race 2 follows with a rolling start, with the grid as Race 1’s result.