RODRIGUES CLAIMS FIRST OVERALL WIN AS TAYLOR OVERTAKES FAAS FOR SECOND IN CLASS
José Eduardo Rodrigues solidified his lead in the Chrome class championship with a standout performance at Most, where he claimed his first-ever overall victory. Meanwhile, Mark Taylor's strong weekend, highlighted by two class wins, propelled him past Steffen Faas into second place in the championship standings, intensifying the battle for the title.
Mark Taylor emerged as one of the top performers, with a flawless drive in Race 1, where starting from pole, he secured a dominant lights-to-flag victory. This win marked his first of the season and was a crucial step in closing the gap to his championship rivals. Taylor maintained this momentum in Race 2, where another strong start saw him take the lead early on. Despite pressure from Steffen Faas, Taylor’s secured back-to-back wins, significantly boosting his position in the standings. Taylor continued to perform strongly on Sunday, where he finished second in the Chrome class in Race 3. In the final race, Taylor made a strong bid for an overall win but ultimately settled for third place overall and second in the Chrome class, solidifying his status as Rodrigues’ closest competitor for the title.
José Eduardo Rodrigues had a weekend full of highs and lows. After a challenging start in Race 1, where he had to fight through the field to secure second place in class, Rodrigues faced more difficulties in Race 2, when an opportunistic move at Turn 2 led to a collision with John Newell, dropping him down the order. Rodrigues bounced back with a strong performance on Sunday, claiming a commanding victory in Race 3. The Portuguese driver topped off his weekend with a brilliant drive in Race 4, where he made a decisive move on Taylor to take his first overall victory in the Goodyear FIA ETRC. This win not only reaffirmed his position at the top of the Chrome standings but also underscored his capability to compete for overall honours.
Steffen Faas faced a challenging weekend at Most, with mechanical issues hindering his performance. However, he managed a strong second-place finish in Race 2, showing his ability to stay competitive despite the setbacks. In the final race, Faas demonstrated resilience by securing third place in the Chrome class, ending the weekend on a positive note. Although he remains in the championship hunt, Faas will need greater consistency in the upcoming rounds to challenge for the title.
John Newell had a mixed weekend at Most. In Race 1, he put up a fierce fight, particularly against Rodrigues, securing third place in the Chrome class and setting himself up for a strong start in Race 2. The Brit was looking to capitalise on starting on the front row to try and take his first Chrome victory of the season, but a move up the inside of Turn 2 on the opening lap from José Eduardo Rodrigues ended his race early. Despite the setback, Newell continued to push, rounding out the weekend with another solid drive in Race 4. Newell’s performance throughout the weekend showcased his tenacity and willingness to fight for every position.
Clemens Hecker showed moments of promise, particularly with a podium finish in Race 3, but a late mistake in Race 4 cost him another podium finish. Hecker's performance highlighted his ability to be in the mix for the podium but also underscored the need for greater consistency.
Luis Recuenco had a difficult weekend, struggling to find the pace to compete at the front. However the Spaniard managed to complete all races, contributing to his season's points tally.
Race-by-race entry Bradley Smith continues to make progress in his third race weekend. Despite the competitive field, Smith showed resilience and consistency by finishing every race, scoring valuable points, and also finishing the weekend with a podium in the Young Drivers Standings.
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