Benavides (Motopark) wins Race 2 slaloming between the drops

21.07.2024

Brad Benavides gave himself a delayed birthday present by winning Race 2 today at the Paul Ricard, in totally different conditions, as cooler temperatures and some rain relieved contenders and fans from the extreme heat of the previous days.

By beating Levente Révész and his most direct rival, Francesco Simonazzi, the American driver of Motopark has extended to 82 pints his avantage in the championship standings: “It was a very hectic race, actually one of the toughest in my career, as wet spots would appear and disappear here and there and change on the following lap. But the important thing is to have clinched a great result, good for the championship.”

Paolo Brajnik is in pole in the reversed grid and lives his moment of glory, keeping the lead for half-lap, given also a poor start by Benavides and Barrichello. At the end of lap 1, Révész leads ahead of Benavides, Simonazzi, Brajnik, Bergmeister, Barrichello and Reicher. A few drops of rain start to fall in lap 2, with Brajnik spinning and almost all drivers taking liberties with the track limits.

A very lively battle at the top develops between Révész, Benavides and Simonazzi, but the Hungarian is under a steward’s summation to give back the position to Benavides, something that only happens in lap 6. Révész is also passed by Simonazzi, while Barrichello has taken fourth from Bergmeister.

The track continues to be damp on some parts, which causes run-offs and spins, notably from Simonazzi and Barrichello, and the situation worsens in the final laps, but everybody manages to stay in track, except Brajnik, whose engine breaks.  Benavides wins ahead of Révész, Simonazzi, Barrichello, Bergmeister and Richer.