The Clio Cup delivered another spectacular race during the opening weekend of the season at the Red Bull Ring. The main protagonists were once again Tomáš Pekař, Bartłomiej Mirecki and Julian Smiechowski, just like in Race 1. This time, however, it was Pekař who came out on top.
Reto Wüest started from pole position alongside Tomáš Pekař, with Nico Wüest and Alexander Spetz on the second row. Oskar Marszałkowski and Nikodem Sobczyk started from the third row, while Julian Smiechowski and Race 1 winner Bartłomiej Mirecki lined up on the fourth row.
Pekař got off to a great start and took the lead in the first corner, with Reto Wüest in second and Alexander Spetz briefly holding third. However, Spetz couldn’t maintain his position and dropped to sixth by the end of the opening lap. Meanwhile, Mirecki was charging through the field and moved up to second on lap two, with Smiechowski in third and Reto Wüest in fourth.
Smiechowski, showing impressive pace, launched an attack on Mirecki. The two drove side by side through several corners until Smiechowski eventually claimed second place.
Elsewhere, Matic Preša spun into the gravel, bringing out the safety car. Just as the safety car was deployed, a brief rain shower began, leaving the track slightly damp.
With 12 minutes remaining, the safety car returned to the pits and racing resumed. Smiechowski immediately launched an attack on Pekař, while Mirecki waited for his opportunity. A thrilling three-car battle unfolded, reminiscent of the first race. Mirecki made a small mistake and ran off in Turn 4 but quickly caught up to Pekař and Smiechowski, with Nikodem Sobczyk also joining the fight.
Smiechowski took the lead and managed to open up a slight gap while the others behind battled and lost time. But on the final lap, the lead group came back together, now joined by Filip Bartoš and the fight intensified.
Pekař reclaimed the lead in Turn 4. Mirecki then moved into second, as he and Smiechowski battled door-to-door through Turn 7. In a dramatic finish, Pekař crossed the line first, just 0.173 seconds ahead of Mirecki. Sobczyk took third, only half a second behind, while Smiechowski crossed the line in fourth.
Filip Bartoš finished fifth, Alexander Spetz sixth, Oskar Marszałkowski seventh, with Nico and Reto Wüest in eighth and ninth. The top ten was completed by Katarzyna Terlikowska.
UPDATE: Bartolomiej Mirecki received 5 seconds penalty for forcing another driver off the track. Miha Primožič also received 5 seconds for causing a collision and Luka Glazer got 2 seconds for track limits
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