The Clio Cup joined the Racing Journal Speed Fest bill at Autodrom Most for the fourth round of the season. Bartlomiej Mirecki lived up to his status as the firm favourite, overcoming a severely compromised starting position in both races to take victory.
The challenging wet conditions in qualifying shook up the familiar starting order seen so far this season. This time, it was Reto Wuest who secured pole position, ahead of Rafal Paprota, Nico Wuest and Tomáš Pekař. Championship leader Mirecki started only 14th, but produced a superb charge through the field, gradually picking off his rivals before catching race leader Smiechowski and slipping past into the lead in the closing stages. By then, Pekař was already out of contention, having sustained damage in a first-lap battle that forced him to retire.
Oskar Marszalkowski eventually finished second, followed by Matic Preša. Debutant Martin Toth also delivered an outstanding performance. Making his first appearance in a Clio, he converted his maiden start into an impressive fourth-place finish.
Having made light work of starting 14th in the opening race, Mirecki found 12th on the grid for race two an altogether more favourable prospect. So it proved. He never put a foot wrong, carving his way through the field with remarkable determination and taking the lead as early as lap four, a position he held all the way to the chequered flag. Home favourite Pekař also mounted a charge through the field. Starting from the penultimate row, he passed one rival after another and eventually came home third behind Julian Smiechowski.
The weekend at Autodrom Most therefore produced some of the finest comeback drives of the Clio Cup season. Fans will not have to wait long for the next dose of door-to-door racing, with the championship returning in three weeks’ time at the Slovakia Ring on 22–23 August.
EVENT RESULTS
Qualifying
Race 1
Race 2
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