Antti Buri takes hard-fought victory at the Nürburgring

Finland’s Antti Buri took his second win of the 2016 ADAC TCR Germany series at the Nürburgring, coming out on top after a long battle with the rival SEAT of Engstler Motorsport’s Mike Halder.

Buri made the best start from second on the grid in his LMS Racing SEAT León, and was ahead of pole-sitter Halder into the first corner, but at the end of lap two, Halder retook the lead with a daring pass around the outside of the final turn.

Pierre-Yves Corthals dropped back on the first lap in his DG Sport Opel Astra and was hit by the Target Honda of Jürgen Schmarl, with Corthals forced to retire at the end of the lap.

Corthal’s team-mate Jordi Oriola was on a charge from ninth on the grid and was making good progress, and was up to sixth by the end of lap two. The Spanish driver passed the SEAT Austria León TCR of Mario Dablander for fifth on lap five at Turn 1, with the Target Honda of Josh Files following him through down the inside of the Austrian.

Files would then pass Oriola for fifth further around the same lap, but Oriola would retake the spot after making contact with the rear of Files’ Honda at the NGK chicane at the end of lap eight.

Oriola’s race would come to an end one lap later however, with the Spaniard pulling into the pits to retire, with both of DG Sport’s Opels now out of the race.

Files would pass the Racing One Volkswagen Golf of Benjamin Leuchter for fourth at the chicane on lap nine, and set about closing the gap to third-placed Steve Kirsch’s ADAC Honda Team Civic TCR.

Halder meanwhile was fighting a defensive battle with Buri right on his tail, but after a few failed attempts, the Finn would finally make a move stick down the inside at Turn 1 on lap 11 and would begin to pull out a comfortable lead.

The last portion of the race saw the main fight that between the two rival Hondas of Kirsch and Files for the final podium spot. Files made a valiant attempt on the way up to the NGK chicane on lap 18, but Kirsch held firm and kept the spot, edging Files’ wide at the chicane.

A lap later though and Kirsch would leave a clear gap down the inside allowing Files through and into third.

Buri went on to take the victory with a lead of six seconds over Halder, who was another four seconds clear of Files at the finish.

Files extends his lead in the championship to 50 points with just four races remaining of the season after another disastrous race for closest rival Harald Proczyk, with the Austrian having another anonymous race and finishing in 14th position in his HP Racing SEAT León TCR.

The next round of the ADAC TCR Germany series takes place at Zandvoort in the Netherlands on August 20th-21st.