Josh Files and his Target Competition Honda Civic bagged their fifth victory in TCR Germany’s ninth round; a success that might prove crucial in the title fight as Files’ closest competitors – Harald Proczyk (HP Motorsport SEAT León) and Steve Kirsch (ADAC Sachsen Honda Civic) – failed to score.
With pole sitter Jürgen Schmarl (Target Competition Honda Civic) demoted to the back of the grid due to an engine change, Jordi Oriola (DG Sport Opel Astra) and Files were sharing the front row.
Files took the best start and led the race from Oriola, Kirsch and Francesco Mora (Target Competition SEAT León). During the opening lap the Portuguese hit Kirsch’s Honda sending it into a spin. Kirsch retired, while Mora had to pay a drive-through penalty.
Files was leading comfortably, with a small gap ahead of Oriola; behind them there were close battles for the positions. On lap 4, Pierre-Yves Corthals (DG Sport Opel Astra) overtook Benjamin Leuchter (Racing One Volkswagen Golf) for fourth and two laps later a Dominik Fugel (ADAC Sachsen Honda Civic) crashed heavily into the tyre wall after a collision with Antti Buri (LMS Racing SEAT León). The safety car was deployed and the race restarted only on lap 12.
Soon afterwards Corthals moved up to third ahead of Mario Dablander (Wolf-Power Racing SEAT León).
Files crossed the line first ahead of the two Opel cars of Oriola and Corthals that claimed a promising result on their first appearance in the series.
Files has stretched his lead in the standings to 34 points ahead of Proczyk, while Kirsch’s gap increased to 57 points.
The second race will start on Sunday at 12:00, noon.