Another close finish at the Lausitzring sees the race go down to the wire, with Gurecky finally getting some reward for his NTC speed so far
Jakub Gurecky (JRT of Automotodrom Brno) has been the man starting from the front so far in 2020, but some bad luck hit the Czech rider in Round 1 and denied him the chance to contend for the win. In Round 2 those fortunes changed, with the number 59 backing up a Race 1 podium with a first win in Race 2 as he narrowly defeated home hero and points leader Freddie Heinrich (PrüstelGP Junior Team) at the Lausitzring. Race 1 winner Lorenz Luciano (Junior Black Knights Team) completed the podium.
Gurecky took the holeshot from pole, with Soma Görbe (HRE Team) once again the early rear gunner and Heinrich slotting into third ahead of Jacopo Hosciuc (Hos Racing Team). The classic group squabble began, but incredibly the Romanian was forced out of it once again… exactly the same as Race 1, pulling off and out of contention.
There were no such issues for Gurecky this weekend, however, and the number 59 continued at the head of the battle more often than not. It was an eight-rider train mid-race, with some picking up their pace from the morning. And yet, the familiar number 59 at the front.
It was Gurecky who still led heading onto the final lap, ahead of Luciano and Görbe, but the number 81 struck into Turn 1 to take over. Gurecky hit back, and then Heinrich was on the scene as he sliced through the dice for the win. Luciano defended and then lined up a move to take back P1 from Gurecky, shooting through… and running well wide. That was his chance of the win gone as the Belgian had to slot back into P3.
Gurecky held it to the line despite the slipstreaming Heinrich just behind, taking his first NTC win in style after an impressive performance in Round 2. Luciano held on for third, ahead of an absolutely stoked Tibor Varga (Forty Racing) as he took his best result yet in P4, beating a gaggle of riders to the line.
The first of were Görbe in P5 and Noel Willemsen (NW Racing) in sixth, the latter of whom only just pipped Jonas Kocourek (JRT of Automotodrom Brno) by just 0.040. Right behind them it was infinitesimal at the line too, as Dustin Schneider (PrüstelGP Junior Team) beat Jakob Rosenthaler (RTR – Racing Team Rosenthaler) to eighth by 0.050. Dutch rider Kas Beekmans (KNMV) held off Luca Göttlicher (Intact Battery Power Juniors) to complete the top ten.
That’s it from Round 2, and next up the grid head west for Hockenheim. Tune in soon for more action from the NTC!
