Bartłomiej Mirecki started from pole position, made a strong getaway, defended his lead and crossed the line first in Race 1 of the Clio Cup at Automotodrom Brno. Although he crossed the finish line first, he was later disqualified for technical issue and the victory was handed to Julian Smiechowski.
Mirecki and Pekař lined up on the front row, with Smiechowski and Nikodém Sobczyk on row two and Filip Dziwok and Alxander Spetz on row three. Mirecki got off the line well and held the lead ahead of Pekař, but Smiechowski managed to overtake the Czech driver at Turn 2 and slotted into second, which was the perfect scenario for Mirecki. He quickly built a small gap on the opening lap while Pekař tried to find a way past Smiechowski.
Further back, Dziwok moved into fourth, Sobczyk was fifth, Spetz sixth, Xawery Ossoliński-Nierodka seventh, followed by Jord Sodnik, Matic Preša and Oskar Marszałkowski rounding out the top ten.
Soon Mirecki’s advantage shrank and Smiechowski closed in, with Pekař right behind. The three forming a tight lead group fighting for the win. A second group, made up of Dziwok, Spetz and Sobczyk chased them from a distance, while a much larger pack battled over seventh place.
The leading trio raced nose-to-tail, each waiting for an opportunity or a mistake. With nine minutes remaining, Smiechowski seized his chance when Mirecki made a small error, briefly taking the lead. But Mirecki quickly retook first place at the next corner. Smiechowski then had to defend from Pekař and held on, keeping the order unchanged.
Meanwhile, Sobczyk ran fourth with Spetz close behind, both enjoying a two-second gap over sixth-placed Dziwok.
In the closing stages, Mirecki was able to edge away slightly, while Pekař increased the pressure on Smiechowski. Despite several attempts, Pekař couldn’t find a way through, leaving Mirecki to secure his fifth consecutive victory. At least for a while before stewards disqualified him and Smiechowski won the race with Sobczyk second, Pekař third. Spetz was fourth, Preša fifth, Nico Wuest sixth, Ossoliński-Nierodka seventh, Reto Wuest eight and Dziwok with Marszalkowski completed the top ten.
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