Tanart and Tang Lead the Way as Nandy Feels the Heat

Tanart and Tang Lead the Way as Nandy Feels the Heat

After the chaos of round one ETEC hoped for a day of less drama and some solid performances, with various drivers out of position on the grid based on finishing order of race 1 the possibilities for some good points looked strong.

Race 2

Highest placed on the grid Mardenborough was fired up in 6th place to avenge the disappointment of race 1’s collision and got off the line with purpose to run fifth, whilst Tatiana who started 12th had the best of the ETEC starts moving up to 8th by the conclusion of lap 1.

Unfortunately one of the places made was at the detriment of teammate Tang who clashed with Auer and broke his steering and stranded the car at the exit of turn 4. The stewards deploying a quite unnecessary red flag to clear the stricken car.

At the restart Mardenborough was jumped and dropped 2 places to 7th, Tanart was looking very racy and got stuck into a midfield battle with Calderon, Seralles and Leitch. Nandy, suffering the effects of yesterday’s heavy accident was trying to deal with the cars handling and was still able to make a few places and was running a lonely 14th.

Mardenborough, full of fight after the slip at the restart moved onto the back of the talented Shothorst and in a great move feigned a dummy and sent one up the inside to make the pass of the race, regaining his 6th place in the process which he would hold to the flag, increasing his lead in the rookie championship.

The real race however was going on behind. Tanart, enjoying his best race thus far, was looking good, running in clear air and setting what proved to be the 3rd fastest lap of the day.

His day got better when Calderon got wide on the poor track surface and her 8th place turning into 13th as the train of following cars passed as she struggled for grip.

At the flag, Mardenborough was again top ETEC runner in 6th, followed home by Tanart in 10th, Tatiana in 13th and Nandy, happy for a finish in 14th.

Race 3

If race 2 was to be a calm after the race 1 storm then race 3 was the hurricane. No less than 1 red flag and 3 safety cars were needed to complete the race and ETEC enjoyed very mixed fortunes as a number of cars returned to the pits on tow trucks sporting significant damage.

The first lap and it was Mardenborough who brought out the first red flag. Debutant D’Agusto made a great (possibly jumped) start and gained a lot of places, running ahead of Jann in 6th, however he got a nosebleed at the second corner and braked significantly early leaving the ETEC man no possibility of avoidance. In a direct reverse of yesterdays incident with Bonafacio it was Jann who climbed the back of the car in front, ripping off the Italians rear wing and forcing himself into immediate retirement.

Behind the incident Nandy had the lap of his life having got the cars handling sorted and climbed from 18th to tenth in a single lap only for his work to be undone as he had to regrid in his original position. On the radio he exclaimed “ no way! Does that mean ive got to do it all over again!” He did but he shouldn’t have been concerned.

Four cars were missing at the restart and Tang got the best of the gaps and was running 7th. Nandy unbelievably did exactly the same and passed 7 cars on the opening lap to run 10th, Tanart was 11th keeping out of trouble and Tatiana, from 19th was in 12th.

Then another twist to Nandy’s weekend as smoke started to emerge from the cockpit and he was forced to pull over for the marshal’s to extinguish a fire. Inspection after the race showed that an electrical fire had started in wiring running alongside his legs. He was fortunate to have escaped unhurt, although this was scant reward for his efforts.

Another restart, this time the 3 remaining ETEC runners crossed the line nose to tail in 7th 8th and 9th although it was not long before the next stoppage as Brazilian Bonofacio had his 2nd major shunt of the weekend and the field were again bunched behind the safety car.

This time the trio of ETEC runners crossed the line in 5th (Tang) 6th (Tanart) and 7th (Calderon) and looking good for the teams best combined and overall result. But the action wasn’t finished… Tanart, finding the weekend getting better and better pulled a move on his Singaporean teammate in the closing stages to reverse 5th and 6th and Calderon had dreadful luck as a missed gear locked the rears in turn 2 forcing a spin and leaving the Colombian teenager in 15th, and a weekend to forget.

Team Manager Shuemack reflected on a chaotic weekend…. “ Can you give me a lift to the airport”

The final weekend of the TRS series 2013 concludes next weekend 9th/10th February with the Grand Prix of New Zealand at Manfield Raceway in Palmerston North.

@ETECMOTORSPORT
ETECMOTORSPORT

www.etecmotorsport.com

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