Rafael Lobato wins at Portimao as Francisco Abreu closes on title

Sporting Clube da Braga driver Rafael Lobato (Audi) took his second victory of the year at Portimao after a long battle with Team Novadriver’s Francisco Abreu, who finished fifth after a drive-through penalty.

TCR Portugal series championship leader Francisco Mora was unable to participate in the race due to the damaged sustained to his SEAT León TCR in yesterday’s Race 1.

Abreu started from pole position and led during the initial stages of the race. Rafael Lobato overtook Abreu for the lead on the second lap, but the Team Novadriver driver repassed him two laps later.

José Cautela, who started from fifth on the grid, recovered positions at the wheel of his SEAT León TCR and was in third place by lap five.

Abreu was then given a drive-through penalty, which he completed at the end of the eighth lap, returning to the track in fifth, leaving Lobato as the race leader.

At the chequered flag, Lobato scored his second victory of the season, followed by Cautela and the SEAT León TCR of Edgar Florindo. Ricardo Leitao took his SEAT to fourth position, with Abreu crossing the line in fifth.

Armando Parente was sixth overall and winner of the TCR2 class at the wheel of his Honda Civic Type R, with André Lavadinho second in his SEAT León MK2. The class’ podium was completed by Simplício Taveira in his Volkswagen Golf.

After this race, and having also receivrd the points for the fastest lap and the pole position, Abreu has reduced the gap to Mora to just five in the TCR Portugal series. As Portuguese drivers only take the points of their best race, the results of the TCR Iberian will be decided after today’s Race 4, with Abreu leading Mora with an 18-point gap.

Race 4 is scheduled for 12:25 CET.