Photo: TCR Italy

Junesung Park wins close second race at Vallelunga

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Junesung Park of Solite Indigo Racing led a close battle to score the victory in the second race at Vallelunga, host of the fifth round of the 2024 TCR Italy season.

Audi driver Matteo Poloni took the lead at the start from the inverted grid pole position, followed by Levente Losonczy (Honda), Junesung Park and Junui Park.

The safety car was called into action on lap three as Pietro Alessi (Audi RS 3 LMS) stopped on track with a broken suspension after a contact with another rival.

The track was green again on lap four, with the positions remaining stable as series newcomer Luciano Martinez (MM Motorsport) made the most of the opening lap troubles to climb up to fifth place, followed by championship leader Nicola Baldan (Audi).

Ruben Volt (Honda) overtook Michele Imberti (Hyundai) for eighth place on lap five.

Junesung Park attacked Losonczy on lap six to overtake for second place, with the Hungarian now under pressure from Junui. Volt continued his charge ahead, overtaking Nicolas Taylor (Audi) for seventh place on the following lap. The Hungarian would however receive a warning for his antics on track.

Park continued recovering the distance to Poloni, coming right behind the Audi rear bumper on lap eleven. Baldan attacked Martínez, nudging the Honda out of the track and with the Argentinian losing three positions.

Junesung Park attacked Poloni for the lead on lap 13, with the Italian defending to keep the position. The scrap allowed Losonczy to make contact with the leaders. The Hungarian driver came side-by-side with Park on the main straight, but the South Korean didn’t give an inch, maintaining second place.

Poloni slowed down on the penultimate lap with a technical issue, leaving Park to inherit the lead.

Junesung Park claimed his second victory of the season at the chequered flag, with Losonczy in second place and team-mate Junui Park completing the podium.

Baldan was fourth ahead of Volt, Taylor and Martínez. Sandro Pelatti of PMA Motorsport was eight, ahead of Cupra driver Salvatore Tavano. Marco Pellegrini completed the top ten.

“It was a very tight race but, at the end of the race I was lucky and was able to take the lead,” Junesung Park said after the race. “I’m very grateful to the team and very happy that my brother got third place, so double podium for the team.”

Baldan retains the championship lead after the races at Vallelunga with 316 points, 18 ahead of Volt and 29 over Taylor.

The season finale of the 2024 TCR Italy season will take place on October 25-27 at Monza.