Nikolay Karamyshev wins frenetic first race in France

Campos Racing’s Nikolay Karamsyhev won an action-packed first round of the 2014 FIA European Touring Car Cup at Paul Ricard, after a race long battle with team-mate Igor Skuz – in a race which required two safety car periods.

The race took place in wet conditions, with Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Franz Engstler missing the race leaving a gap in third.

At the rolling start, Mat’ Homola leaped up into second place ahead of Igor Skuz’s Chevrolet, but the Ukrainian was able to retake the spot and began to chase down Karamyshev on the opening lap.

At the final corner, the Proteam BMW of Mikhail Grachev was spun around by the SEAT of Aku Pellinnen, and was collected by Andreas Pfister’s SEAT, with both cars heavily damaged and out of the race, bringing out the first safety car.

Skuz had just managed to take the lead from Campos team-mate Karamyshev before the safety car boards were displayed and led the race until the chaotic restart on lap five.

The two Chevrolets again fought hard, with Karamyshev taking the lead through Turn 1 but Skuz retaking the spot at Turn 5. On the following lap, Skuz went wide at Turn 1 allowing Karamsyshev through, but Skuz drove back on the track into the side of Karamyshev, slowing the two Chevrolets down and allowing Norbert Kiss’s Alfa Romeo briefly through into the lead.

The two fast Chevrolets were back ahead on the fast chicane, while Mat’o Homola was slipstreaming the Alfa for third position, when the driver’s side door came off the Alfa Romeo. Kiss jinked right as it happened, which sent Homola into a spin, and over the dislodged door, causing heavy damage to his BMW and he was out of the race, and the safety car was called again.

At the restart, Karamyshev made a mistake at Turn 6 and went wide, dropping to third, giving Skuz the lead ahead of the Krenek BMW of Petr Fulín.

The Russian was now on a charge, passing Fulín was second on lap 12 and resumed his battle with Skuz on lap 14, taking the lead briefly through Turn 1 before Skuz repassed him on the inside at Turn 2.

Karamyshev retook the lead for the last time at the final corner on lap 14. On the final lap, Skuz made a mistake at the same corner and allowed last year’s S2000 drivers’ champion Petr Fulín through into third.

Aku Pellinen took the Single-Make Trophy class win in his SEAT, finishing fourth overall behind the leading trio, while Ulrike Krafft won the S1600 class, finishing 16th overall.

Race two follows with Andrina Gugger starting from the reversed top eight grid with Krenek’s Michal Matejovsky alongside for the standing start.