Ruben Volt masters wet conditions to win dramatic second Spa race

ALM Motorsport’s Ruben Volt claimed a superb victory in the second TCR Europe Series race of the Spa-Francorchamps weekend.

The Honda Civic Type-R driver, who received a 15-second penalty for jumping the start in race one on Saturday, charged through the field in worsening conditions, getting the better of PMA Motorsport’s Nicolas Taylor on the penultimate lap of the race.

Volt initially opted for slicks but pitted for wets early on and the call proved prophetic as rain played a pivotal role during the race.

Tiago Pernía finished second in his Squadra Martino Honda, with Taylor finishing third.

Polesitter Gabriele Covini got a terrible start and was swamped by the field off the line, with Nicola Baldan taking the early lead as Adam Shepherd and Marco Butti made contact at La Source.

Covini’s lead didn’t last long, though as he fell behind Junesung Park around the outside of Les Combes, the Hyundai Elantra N TCR driver mastering the tricky conditions the best on the opening lap.

Further around the first lap, there was more drama for Victor Fernández, who spun into the barrier on the exit of Bruxelles, prompting the safety car.

Park held onto the lead at the restart with PMA Motorsport Audi team-mates Taylor and Baldan in tow behind.

With the rain intensifying, those near the front of the field had the advantage of greater visibility, with Park opening up a steady margin from Taylor entering the final 10 minutes.

Taylor made a concerted effort to seize the lead from Park as the pair negotiated Eau Rouge, the two cars banged door panels before Taylor got the upper hand at Raidillon with just over six minutes remaining.

Park, in his efforts to keep pace with Taylor survived a scare at the exit of Blanchimont, nearly losing the back of his car as the rain got even heavier.

Meanwhile, Volt was on a mission and dispatched Mike Halder, Baldan, Tiago Pernía and Park before catching and passing Taylor on the penultimate lap.

The Estonian with much more pace in the full wet conditions, pulled away to comfortably take the win with Taylor also losing second to Pernía.

Taylor had to make do with third at the finish, as Halder finished fourth ahead of Volt’s team-mate Max Hart.

Irishman Hart looked to have been in the wars early on with a trip through the gravel, but a pit-stop for new tyres and a sensational recovery drive after the safety car gave him a thoroughly deserved top five result.

Park settled for sixth place ahead of Butti, with Baldan eighth ahead of Giacomo Prandelli. Adam Shepherd completed the top 10.

Race one winner Felipe Fernández made little progress from his reversed grid starting position of tenth, and slipped down the order after the safety car restart, finishing outside the top 10.

Halder heads the standings with a margin of eight points over Taylor.

The next TCR Europe race takes place at Paul Ricard on June 6-7.