Goethe (Motopark) crowned 2022 EFO Champion with dominant win in Race 1
15.10.2022
Oliver Goethe is the new Euroformula Open Champion. The Dane of Motopark took a dominant win in Race 1 at Barcelona on a warm afternoon, definitely sealing the battle for the 2022 crown. It’s a weekend of celebrations for Ollie, as he turned 18 yesterday; a large group of family and friends is accompanying him on this special weekend.
“It’s a very special moment for me”, he admitted. “Winning this championship, and seeing what other EFO drivers are being able to achieve is very promising and I definitely look forward to what comes ahead of me!”
Goethe had taken his fifth pole of the season in the morning; in the race, he was able to keep the advantage and pull away progressively, despite a contact with Josh Mason in lap 1. That resulted in a 5-second penalty while the Briton had to pit to change the nose of his car and finished last.
Vlad Lomko (CryptoTower), the only one who could have still challenged Goethe for the title, did not have a good day, qualifying poorly and finishing 6th, which put an end to any title ambition.
Christian Mansell challenged Goethe for the lead down to turn one once team-mate Mason was eliminated, getting alongside but having to back out of making a move as he was on the outside line.BVM Racing’s Francesco Simonazzi got into third place ahead of Motopark’s Frederick Lubin, with Vlad Lomko and Ayrton Simmons engaging in a battle over fifth place. Goethe grew his lead at approximately a second per lap in the first half of the 18-lap race, with Simonazzi pressuring Mansell through the first five laps until he was able to make a pass around the outside of turn one on lap six.
Lubin, Lomko, and Simmons were right behind them and ready to pass Mansell too, and by holding them off it allowed Simonazzi to race away in second place.
Simmons passed Lomko and catch Lubin, who was simultaneously occupied for many laps with trying to pass Mansell. It ultimately led to a stalemate until lap 14 when Simmons dived down the inside of Lubin at the hairpin and took fourth place.
