Adrien Tambay and Mikel Azcona share Pool Furious semi finals victories

Cupra EKS’ Adrien Tambay and Hyundai Motorsport N’s Mikel Azcona claimed the victories in the Pool Furious semi finals at the Sachsenring on Sunday morning, with Tambay keeping a perfect score on the championship-deciding weekend.

Tambay, Michelisz and Romeo Ferraris’ Luca Filippi lined up for the Pool Furious semi final 1.

Tambay took the lead at the start ahead of Michelisz, who came under fire from Filippi at Turn 1. The Romeo Ferraris driver went side-by-side with the Hyundai Veloster N ETCR driver to climb up to second place, rubbing paint along the way.

Filippi and Michelisz made use of their power-up to keep up with Tambay and the three cars entered the last lap separated by just one second.

Filippi went on the inside of Tambay at Turn 1, trying to out-brake the Giulia ETCR driver and spun into the gravel.

Tambay stayed ahead and managed the gap to Michelisz who, despite closing up on the Frenchman, had to settle for second place.

“Driving is a little bit different this weekend than normal, but I’m focussing on the job and the car is mega,” said Tambay after the race.

“It was very difficult to decide what to do after the start, I lost the position as there was a bit of rubbing and had some understeer after that, but it was a good race,” added Michelisz.

The second semi final was delayed as the marshals recovered Filippi’s car, which was buried in the gravel trap.

Bruno Spengler of Romeo Ferraris, Mikel Azcona of Hyundai and Jordi Gené of Cupra took their turn for the second semi final.

The Canadian took the lead at the start, with Azcona settling in second place ahead of Gené. The three cars remained very close together during the first lap as Spengler used half of his power-up to stay ahead.

Azcona blasted down the back straight to take the lead from Spengler on lap two, with the Romeo Ferraris driver falling into the grips of Gené.

Gené started the last lap preparing his move as Spengler used up his remaining power-up to remain in second place.

Azcona won at the chequered flag, with Spengler swerving on the main straight to avoid Gené overtaking, with both crossing the finish line side-by side and the Spaniard claiming second place by just one-thousandth of a second ahead of the Canadian.

“I was very surprised, to be honest, wasn’t thinking about a move at that corner, but I used the power up as he moved in the rear and it worked well,” said Azcona after the race.

“It’s not fair that somebody moves more than three times on the straight, that’s not the spirit!” Gené said about Spengler’s antics.

After the semi finals, Adrien Tambay leads the championship battle with 495 points, 27 ahead of fellow Cupra EKS driver Mattias Ekström.

The FIA ETCR returns to action at 15:41 CEST for the Pool Fast super final.