EMT: Zolder race two summary

'Bravo', Campaniço!

Portuguese driver Cesar Campaniço gave his Racing for Belgium team its second victory of the weekend. Better still, it was a one-two for the team, since Jan Heylen finished as runner-up! Ludovic Badey (Pouchelon Racing) managed to feature in the top-three for the second time this weekend.

The two Méganes from the Racing for Belgium team made it look easy in grabbing the advantage at the start of the race, Cesar Campanico taking the lead ahead of Jan Heylen. Behind, Jeffrey van Hooydonk (Thierry Boutsen Racing), Ludovic Badey (Pouchelon Racing) and Pedro Petiz (Oregon Team) chased after the two leaders.

As early as the second lap, the Safety car was brought onto the track to allow the hard-working marshals to clear the track of the cars of Franz Verschuur, Wim Coekelbergs, Antonio Aristi, Philippe Macé, Pascal Ballay, Andrea Mayerl and Jeffrey van Hooydonk.

The race got underway again on lap 7. Jan Heylen managed to hold off Ludovic Badey, who was applying more and more pressure. As for Pedro Petiz, he had to contain a trio of drivers - Frédéric Gabillon, Renaud Derlot and Sébastien Dhouailly - who were hot on his heels.

Badey continued to attack Heylen, but he ran into him on braking and both cars ended up stuck in the gravel pit. Heylen's Mégane then caught fire and race officials were forced to show the red flag to bring the race to a halt.

As the final standings were those from the lap prior to the incident, Campanico finished first, ahead of Heylen, second and Badey, third.

Cesar Campanico: "My first impression of touring car racing is a good one. This weekend was all about testing my limits, as well as those of the car. It's nice to finish with a win, but the championship will only properly get underway next time!"

Jan Heylen: "If the spectators were looking for a show, then they certainly got that! I had an engine problem after the restart. I think the fire on my car was more due to that than the clash with Ludovic."

Ludovic Badey: "I could see that Jan was having some problems. I moved out without really looking to attack him. I was off the racing line, on a very dirty part of the track. As soon as I touched the brakes I lost control of the car. And as I was pushed from behind I ran into Jan. It's a shame because the car was very good today."

-renault-