RACB National Team’s young pairing of Sam Dejonghe and Denis Dupont won an eventful 60-minute Qualifying Race for TCR Benelux second event at Circuit Park Zandvoort.
In the first part of the race Dupont’s SEAT León was in a close fight for the lead with Pierre-Yves Corthals’ Opel Astra (DG Sport Compétition) and the other SEAT of Loris Hezemans (Ferry Monster Autosport). The trio swapped positions several times until the half-race pit stops for driver changes.
Corthals was the last one to pit, handing the leading Astra to Frédéric Caprasse who crashed on his first lap out, prompting the safety car.
When the race resumed, Dejonghe was leading followed by Olivier Hart who had replaced Hezemans. However, Hart was eliminated in a collision with Vincent Radermecker (Milo Racing Volkswagen Golf).
Dejonghe crossed the finish line with a 5-second advantage ahead of the Delahaye Racing VW Golf of Alexis van de Poele and Romain de Laval, while Norbert Michelisz recovered until third position at the wheel of the Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic he shared with Stéphane Lémeret.
Action will resume tomorrow morning at 9:55, with the first two of the event’s four 20-minute sprint races. Guest star Tiago Monteiro (Boutsen Ginion Racing Honda Civic) will start from pole position after having posted the fastest lap in the second part of today’s Qualifying Race.