Stefano Comini was pleased with his podium in the second TCR International Series race at Spa-Francorchamps, which keeps him in title contention after failing to start race one.
The defending champion started from third on the grid in race two, behind Leopard Racing team-mates Antti Buri and Jean-Karl Vernay. The Swiss racer managed to get past young Finn Buri on the second lap, before briefly passing Vernay two laps later.
The lead of the race was only held for one lap by Comini, before Vernay retook the position at the same place at Turns 5 and 6 on the following lap.
The positions remained the same thereafter, with the WRT-run team scoring a podium lockout, and a stoic Comini insisted that he was not disappointed to have lost out on a chance to take a first victory of the season.
“It was a good job for Leopard Racing; we did it very well,” Comini told TouringCars.Net. “At the start I didn’t want to kill my tyres, and I didn’t want to touch my team-mates, so I was really careful.
“After I overtook Jean-Karl in the straights – the slipstream is very important for us Volkswagens – we worked together to get away from the other guys, which we were planning before. After that, I left him overtake in the same place the lap after. I wanted to keep my tyres safe to be better at the end, in order to not lose so much time.
“It was a good solution; with 20 kg, you feel it at the end of the race, and I didn’t want to have no more tyres on the last lap, like [race one winner Aku] Pellinen yesterday. It was too dangerous for me and for Leopard, so I took care of the tyres and of our position.
“It was a good job for Leopard Racing and the next time I hope I will win. It is good for the championship – we need to score good points for the team, for the drivers, and like today we three Leopard Racing drivers are on the podium and it’s massive for the team.
“It was our job to push together, to get away with the slipstream, and it was the case today. It was a good job.”
Leopard Racing CSO Claudio Berro praised the entire team for their efforts in securing the first Volkswagen 1-2-3 in the TCR Series.
“The win and every rung of the podium was richly deserved after all the hard work the team put in this week,” said Berro. “The drivers performed brilliantly and produced clever drives in the race to hand Leopard this fantastic result.
“The Volkswagen and WRT engineers used all their experience to overcome yesterday’s difficulties, reacting in fine fashion. A big thank you to everyone!”