Guillaume Mondron closes down points lead after strong weekend at Zolder

Delahaye Racing’s Guillaume Mondron made key headway in the 2017 TCR Benelux drivers’ standings, after reducing the gap to Boutsen Ginion Racing’s Benjamin Lessennes to just three points at Circuit Zolder.

Mondron drove his Volkvswagen Golf GTI TCR, the second time in the Volkswagen as opposed to the SEAT León, to second place in both of Sunday morning’s sprint races, while new co-driver Lorenzo Donniacuo powered through to third in Race 2, while the #2 Honda Civic of Lessennes and reigning champion Stéphane Lémeret was on the podium twice.

Things nearly went awry for the #4 Delahaye Volkswagen duo however in Race 3, when Donniacuo’s Golf was left trapped in the gravel after an incident at the first turn.

“In Race 3, Lorenzo was pushed by an Audi and hit the wall just after the first left,” said Mondron. “So, he was now at the back, but managed the tyres for Race 4.

After reducing Lessennes’ lead to just three points at the 2/3 mark of the season, Mondron, now committed to the full season, says the title battle is on, but which car he’ll race for the last two rounds is unclear, with the team rotating between their Golf GTI and León TCR cars for the 23-year-old so far.

“We’ll see at the next one in Mettet– the championship battle is on,” he said. “As for the car, we have to discuss, as we were going to race in the finale at Assen in the SEAT, but we seem to be more comfortable in the Volkswagen.”