A dramatic run to the line provided the highlight of the second Clio Cup race at the Red Bull Ring, with Bartlomiej Mirecki crossing the finish line just 0.088 seconds ahead of Julian Smiechowski after a three way fight for victory.
The grid for Race 2 was set by the draw for the top nine positions based on results from first race, placing Miha Primožič and Rafal Paprota on the front row. Matic Preša and Filip Dziwok lined up on the second row, with Julian Smiechowski and Luca Franca starting from the third. Bartlomiej Mirecki and Oskar Marszalkowski occupied the fourth row, while Race 1 winner Tomáš Pekař started in fifth row alongside Dawid Babraj.
Primožič made a strong start to retain the lead, but Smiechowski swept past on the run to Turn 2 and immediately began to build a gap to the chasing pack. Behind him, a tightly packed group formed as drivers fought for position through the opening lap.
By the end of lap one, Mirecki had moved up to second, while Primožič dropped another position. He defended strongly to hold third as a large train of cars formed behind. At the end of lap two, Pekař moved into third place.
Mirecki quickly closed the gap to Smiechowski and made a decisive move for the lead on lap four. However, he was unable to break clear, with Smiechowski staying within striking distance as the battle continued.
The fight at the front was interrupted when the safety car was deployed after Luca Franca came to a halt on the grass near the start finish straight with damaged car.
Racing resumed with 12 minutes remaining, with the field tightly bunched. Pekař immediately pressured Smiechowski and also seized his opportunity when Mirecki ran wide at Turn 4, allowing the reigning champion to take the lead.
Pekař now led from Smiechowski, with Mirecki dropping to third ahead of Marszalkowski and Preša. The race leader briefly pulled clear, but the battle behind continued and with two minutes remaining, Mirecki caught Pekař and made the move for the lead. Smiechowski followed through a lap later, setting up a three way fight to the finish.
Mirecki held on to take his first win of the season in a photo finish, with Smiechowski just 0.085 seconds behind. Pekař completed the podium, a further 0.088 seconds adrift.
Oskar Marszalkowski finished fourth, five seconds behind the leading trio, followed by Matic Preša, Rafal Paprota and Jorg Sodnik. Pawel Wysmyk was eighth, Aleks Sowka ninth and Xawery Ossolinski Nierodka rounded out the top ten.
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