The Clio Cup heads to Austria this weekend for the third round of the season, which will take place at the high speed Salzburgring circuit. The track will host the championship for the first time in recent years.
Salzburgring is a new challenge for most of the Clio Cup grid, as the championship last competed at this circuit more than ten years ago. It is largely unknown territory for the drivers, although the majority of them have prepared on simulators to get a feel for the circuit, which originally opened in September 1969.
Bartłomiej Mirecki arrives in Austria as the championship leader ahead of a grid featuring more than 30 entries for the third round. However, the battle at the top of the standings is just as close as the racing on track. Only one point separates Mirecki from Tomáš Pekař at the top of the table, while Julian Śmiechowski trails Mirecki’s 85 points by 28.
Thanks to the fast layout of the circuit, we can expect intense battles and plenty of slipstreaming during the two races scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. With more than 30 cars on the grid, it promises to be a showcase of close and competitive racing throughout the entire field, from the leaders to the back of the pack.
Drivers will also need to keep in mind that Salzburgring offers very little room for mistakes. The barriers and gravel traps are close to the circuit, while tarmac run off areas are very much non existence. In such tight racing conditions, where contact can easily happen, even a small mistake or an off track excursion can cost valuable time.
What we can expect is that Mirecki, Pekař and Śmiechowski will once again fight near the front, joined by Matic Preša, Oskar Marszałkowski, Rafał Paprota, Filip Dziwok and Paweł Wyśmyk. These are the drivers capable of matching the pace of the championship contenders and challenging for podium finishes.
Overall, the Salzburgring round represents very much unknown circuit, and the results of both races, scheduled for Saturday at 17:20 and Sunday at 10:30, could prove unpredictable. This is a round you should not miss.
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