Photo: ACI Sport

Nicola Baldan takes first win of the season at Paul Ricard

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Pit Lane Competizioni’s Nicola Baldan took his first TCR Italy win of the season at Paul Ricard after a hard-fought battle with Eric Scalvini.

At the start, Scalvini (Hyundai) took the lead ahead of Baldan (Hyundai), who had started from pole position, and Salvatore Tavano (SEAT). Massimiliano Mugelli (Honda) and Enrico Bettera (Audi) collided at Turn 2, retiring from the race.

Marco Pellegrini Anatrella overtook Target Competition team-mate Jose Rodrigues for fifth position on lap 2. At the front, Baldan and Scalvini continued their fight for the lead, as Tavano was closing on the leading duo. The Pit Lane Competizioni driver got side-by-side with Scalvini on the back straight, claiming the lead on lap four.

That left Tavano on Scalvini’s tail. Cellk Caglayan tagged Lorenzo Nicoli at Turn 7 on the following lap, sending the Honda into a spin. The safety car was called into action, with the race neutralised just one lap before the restart with seven minutes to go.

Baldan took his first win of the season with a 4.979-second margin over Scalvini, with Tavano settling for the third and final spot of the podium.

The three Hondas of Pellegrini Anatrella, Schmarl and Rodrigues followed, with Andrea Larini in seventh. Federico Paolino was eighth, followed by Giacomo Altoè and Massimiliano Gagliano, who was also the winner of the DSG Trophy.

Race 2 is scheduled for tomorrow at 10:40 CET.