Photo: TCR Italy

Junesung Park takes maiden victory in incident-packed Race 2 at Mugello

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Junesung Park claimed the victory in the second TCR Italy race at Mugello, which was marred by continuous incidents and two safety car interventions.

Park held the reverse grid pole position in his Hyundai and kept the lead at the rolling start, followed by Audi duo Nicola Baldan and Nicolas Taylor.

The safety car was called into action on lap 1 after a multiple incident involving Gabrile Covini, Alex Ley and Damiano Reduzzi. Ruben Volt also retired to the pits with an oil pump issue.

The race was relaunched on lap four, with Park defending the lead against Baldan and Taylor, but the Solite Indigo Racing driver was reported for an incorrect operation at the restart.

Levente Losonczy was fourth, ahead of Hwarang Kim, defending from series newcomer Pietro Alessi.

The safety car was called into action a second time on lap five, as Volt, who had returned to the track, went straight on with an apparent technical issue and crashed against the barriers.

The track went green again on lap eight, and with just over five minutes plus one lap left on the clock. Park lead again as Taylor attacked Baldan. Alessi overtook Losonczy, with both colliding several times on the track and the Audi driver losing to the Hungarian again.

Losonczy made contact with leading group on lap nine, attacking Taylor for third place on lap nine, but the Canadian managed to defend and stay ahead.

Junesung Park took his first victory in the series at the chequered flag, with Baldan and Taylor completing the podium.

Losonczy was fourth, ahead of Alessi and Matteo Poloni. Kim crossed the line in seventh place, ahead of Michele Imberti. Paolo Rocca was ninth, with Salvatore Tavano completing the top ten.

“Thank you very much, this is my first victory in Italy and I want to give special thanks to my team Solite Indigo Racing,” Park said after the race.

After the races at Mugello, Baldan now takes the championship lead with 175 points, with Tavano five points behind and Taylor 13 points adrift.

The next round of the 2024 TCR Italy season takes place at Imola on the 6-8th of September.