Photo: TCR Italy

Nicolas Taylor claims commanding win in red-flagged final Imola race

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Nicolas Taylor won the final TCR Italy race of the weekend at Imola in style, a race which was red-flagged following a spectacular crash between Filippo Maria Zanin and Michal Bartoszuk.

Audi driver Denis Babuin started from the reversed grid pole position but was beaten into turn one by both points leader Nicola Baldan and Taylor.

Sandro Pelatti (Audi) hit Jacopo Cimenes (Honda) at Turn 2, resulting in a spin for the Honda driver.

Taylor immediately put hard pressure on title rival Baldan in the fight for the lead, with the duo making contact in the process. Taylor was able to get past for the lead heading into the Variante Alta chicane on the opening lap.

The safety car was called into action following a high-speed incident between Aikoa Racing team-mates Francesco Cardone and Filippo Barberi.

Cardone came spinning across the grass heading into Aque Minerali and struck team-mate Barberi who retired on the spot.

Cardone was able to continue briefly with a badly damaged car, only for him to be hit and spun by Pietro Alessi heading into the Variante Alta chicane and retired from the race.

The race resumed soon after, only for the red flags to be brought out as Fox Racing Team driver Zanin and MM Motorsport’s Bartoszuk made spectacular contact heading into Turn 5, resulting in a roll for Audi driver Zanin. Both driver escaped the incident unharmed while their cars sustained significant damage.

The race resumed with just below ten minutes left on the clock.

While Taylor and Baldan pulled away in the top two positions, there was a close but static five-car fight for third place.

Babuin defended hard from fellow Audi driver Matteo Poloni, Cupra driver Cosimo Barberini and the BRC Hyundai duo of Alex Ley and Gabriele Covini.

The position remained unchanged until the end of the race, with Covini suffering a last-lap scare as smoke started billowing out from his front-left wheel which brought Honda driver Cimenes right on his tail.

Covini was able to remain in seventh place as the chequered flag fell.

PMA Motorsport driver Taylor won the race in style, close to three seconds clear of Baldan while Babuin was a distant third.

Poloni came home in fourth ahead of Barberini and Ley.

Baldan continues on top of the standings on 294 points while Taylor is getting closer in second place on 288 points.

The next TCR Italy race takes place at Mugello on September 12-14.