Photo: TCR Eastern Europe

Two Slovakiaring victories for local hero Mat’o Homola

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Janík Motorsport driver won the first TCR Eastern Europe race at Slovakiaring and then inherited the race two win after Giacomo Ghermandi was penalised for jumping the start.

The first race started in damp conditions with some parts of the circuit drying out.

Rene Kirche of Mertel Motorsport (Honda) started from pole ahead of Homola and Carlo Czepiel.

During the formation lap, Ghermandi, who was supposed to start fourth, went off the circuit at the last corner, but was able to rejoin and start from his original grid spot.

Kircher held first position as the lights went out, only to lose it halfway through the first lap to Homola.

At the end of lap six, Adam Rzepecki went wide in the penultimate corner and had to go through the gravel trap, which saw him falling down to last place.

On lap eight, Czepiel was battling with his team-mate Kout, and passed him for fourth place.

Homola won his second race this season ahead of Kircher, who was later disqualified for a technical rules breach.

Kajaia inherited second place ahead of Czepiel and Kout. Ghermandi crossed the finish line fifth, ahead of Poschik and Petr Fulin Jr.

Philipp Dietrich started from on pole position in the second race ahead of Fulin Jr. and Poschik.

Poschik got strong start to take the lead from third on the grid.

However, Poschik started losing oil from his car following contact during the opening lap action, which saw the Austrian driver eventually retiring.

Homola meanwhile was posting fast lap times and on lap four, he overtook Dietrich for second place and started reeling in Ghermandi who was in front.

On lap 5, Ghermandi was hit with a ten-second penalty for jumping the start.

After crossing the finish line first, Ghermandi’s penalty dropped him down to ninth place, with local hero Mat’o Homola inheriting first place.

Dietrich finished second in front of Kajaia. The second Janík Motorsport Hyundai of Czepiel was fourth, with Fulin Jr. and Kircher behind.

Homola continues head the standings with 154 points, while Kajaia moves to second in the standings on 113 points.

Next TCR Eastern Europe race weekend will be held at Autodrom Most on August 5-6.