Borkovic and Colciago winners in Austria, Comini is the new leader

Dusan Borkovic (GE-Force, Alfa Romeo Giulietta) and Roberto Colciago (M1RA Racing, Honda Civic) are the race winners in the fifth round of the 2017 TCR International Series season at Salzburgring. For Borkovic, it’s the second win of the season. Colciago climbs for the third time to the top podium spot.

Start of the race 1 at Salzburgring

In the first race, Borkovic converted his front-row starting position into the early lead, passing the polesitter Mato Homola before the Turn 1 chicane. The Serbian driver defended his lead under few attacks to remain in front until the race was red-flagged on Lap 15.

Two interruptions marked the race in which two drivers of Leopard Racing crashed out from the race –  Rob Huff on lap 9 and championship leader Jean-Karl Vernay on lap 15, both at the infamous turn 9.

The Safety car period after Huff’s crash reduced Borkovic’s advantage but his perfect sprint at the restart didn’t allow Homola to return in front. Instead of attacking P1, Homola had to defend his second place, first from Pepe Oriola and in the final stages from Stefano Comini. Just before the second safety car intervention, local driver Thomas Jäger managed to overtake Oriola and Nash to grab fourth place.

Roberto Colciago at Salzburgring

In the race 2, Roberto Colciago and Gianni Morbidelli were in the front row of the top-ten reverse grid. Colciago converted his pole position into the lead and lights-to-flag victory. Behind Colciago’s back, Morbidelli had a strong opposition and he lost few positions during the race, finishing in the fifth place.

Attila Tassi finished in the second place, doubling up the celebration for M1RA Racing team, owned by WTCC racer Norbert Michelicz. Stefano Comin finished in the third place again. Thomas Jäger was again fantastic in Kissling Motorsport’s Opel Astra, finishing in the fourth place.

The race was interrupted once, on lap 11, after Pepe Oriola went off to the gravel on turn 9. Five laps before, Dusan Borkovic ended a race in a gravel trap but Safety car wasn’t called out that time.

Check the full results of TCR races at Salzburgring

With two podiums at Salzburgring, Stefano Comini takes over the championship lead. He has 125 points, three more than Colciago. The previous leader Jean-Karl Vernay drops to third place. Attila Tassi is fourth, ahead of Dusan Borkovic.

The next race is scheduled for Hungaroring on June 18, as a part of the DTM weekend.

Photos: tcr-series.com,