Photo: TCR Europe

Dusan Borkovic wins opening race amid carnage behind in Hungary

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Dusan Borkovic avoided carnage behind him to take his third TCR Europe series victory of the season in the opening race at the Hungaroring.

The Serbian profited from misfortune for KCMG team-mates Josh Files and Atilla Tassi to lead home Norwegian Stian Paulsen’s Cupra and Dániel Nagy’s Hyundai i30 N TCR.

Pole-sitter Mikel Azcona finished an eventful race fourth to add more points to his championship lead as chaos ensued throughout the field.

Azcona made the most of a tardy start from Tassi on the outside of the front row to lead into the first turn, but Files made it round the outside to take the lead into Turn 2.

The trio disputed the lead for the next five laps, with Azcona temporarily losing second to Tassi’s Honda Civic Type R FK8.

Azcona and Files then touched as the Spaniard attempted a brave overtake round the outside of the final corner. Azcona half-spun but remained on track, while Files slowed suddenly on the following tour.

This allowed Borkovic to assume the lead in his Hyundai i30 N TCR. Tassi followed closely but had to fend off the charging Peugeot 308TCR of Julien Briché.

That battle ended abruptly as Briché sent Tassi into the gravel at Turn 8 as he tried to pull off a cut-back manoeuvre. This brought out the safety car and Briché was subsequently handed a 30-second time penalty, costing him a podium.

Any number of drivers could have completed the podium, but it was Paulsen and Nagy who managed to get there.

Azcona was denied a chance to stand on the rostrum after he was embroiled in a final lap collision with Target Competition’s Reece Barr.

The Irishman got a run on Azcona after the PCR Sport Cupra driver ran wide at the final turn but lost the rear under braking for Turn 1, making contact.

The pair also collected the Honda Civic Type R of Stefano Comini, who had made a remarkable recovery drive from 23rd on the grid. Comini finished eighth while Barr was 16th.

Behind Azcona was Kris Richard in the third Target Hyundai, having enjoyed a relatively quiet race.

Jens Reno Moller headed Jean-Karl Vernay’s Team WRT Audi RS 3 LMS – who made a similarly impressive drive from 22nd – while Danny Kroes and Márk Jedlóczky completed the top 10 behind Comini.

Race 2 will take place tomorrow at 11:50 CEST