Photo: TCR Italy

Nicola Baldan wins puncture-affected final TCR Italy race at Monza

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Nicola Baldan won a puncture-affected final TCR Italy race of the weekend at Monza, claiming the points lead as title rival Nicolas Taylor retired at the beginning of the race.

Honda driver Marco Pellegrini started the race from pole position and headed the field ahead of a fast-starting Taylor (Audi) who was up to second place from fourth on the grid heading into Turn 1.

But Taylor’s race ended on lap two as he came to a halt at the exit of Variante Ascari.

Baldan started eighth but was soon up among the top drivers, making his way past Honda driver Jacopo Cimenes for third place with 22 minutes left of the race.

Cimenes was then one of the first victims of a front-left puncture, as has been seen in several of the other classes racing at the newly resurfaced Monza circuit this weekend, including the FIA TCR World Tour.

Other drivers to also suffer a puncture was Pellegrini, while in second place, Gabriele Covini, Pietro Alessi, Denis Babuin and Matteo Poloni.

There was an incident between Sandro Pelatti and Filippo Barberi heading out of the Prima Variante with 18 minutes left of the race, resulting in a spin for Pelatti and a ten-second penalty for Barberi.

Barberi closed in on rival Audi driver Baldan in the fight for the lead with less than ten minutes left of the race.

The duo remained close, but Baldan was able to remain ahead to win the race while Barberi dropped down to fifth place with his penalty.

This handed second place to Baldan’s Aikoa Racing team-mate Francesco Cardone while MM Motorsport driver Michal Bartoszuk (Honda) completed the podium.

BRC Racing Team driver Alex Ley climbed up to finish fourth ahead of Barberi and Zekai Özen.

Baldan heads the standings on 232 points while Taylor drops to second on 203 points.

The next TCR Italy race takes place at Imola on August 1-3.