Erik Zabala wins incident-packed second race at Jarama
Erik Zabala of Team Clairet Sport claimed victory in Race 2 at Jarama, host of 2026 TCR Spain season opener.
Pole sitter Demir Eroge faltered at the start, with Busian Fontan (Audi) taking the lead momentarily before going off the track at Turn 1.
That handed Sandro Pelatti (Cupra) the lead ahead of Honda driver Victor Fernández and Zabala.
René Polvsen and Luke Sargeant collided at the start, with the Danish driver receiving a ten-second time-penalty for the incident.
Victor Fernández spun off the track before the end of the first lap and then retired to the pit lane.
Fernandes overtook Zabala for second place on lap five, with the Audi driver now under the claws of Sten-Dorian Piirimägi (Honda) of ALM Motorsport. Meanwhile, Race 1 winner Viktor Andersson was fifth and continued to close the gap to the drivers battling ahead.
Fernandes went on the inside of Pelatti for the lead at Turn 1 on lap twelve, with both Cupra drivers tangling and Pelatti ended up on the gravel as Fernandes took the lead.
Fernandes received a drive-through penalty for the incident which he completed on the penultimate lap, returning to the track in fourth place.
Zabala defended his lead from Piirimägi and Andersson who completed the podium. Fernandes was fourth, ahead of Fontan and Matheiu Casalonga (Audi).
Eröge was seventh, ahead of Polvsen and Sargeant. Alvaro Rodríguez, driving a Peugeot, completed the top ten.
“It was a very crazy race, there was a lot of trouble at the start, which we managed to avoid,” said Zabala after the race.
“We were then able to stay in position and I had to then defend from Piirimägi. I want to dedicate this victory to all those who continued believing in my project despite having a difficult last season.”
After the first round at Jarama, Andersson leads the TCR Spain drivers’ table with 62 points, four ahead of Piirimägi and Zabala.
The next round of the 2026 TCR Spain season takes place at Paul Ricard on April 23-25.
