The first day of the final round of the Porsche Sprint Challenge Ibérica, which takes place on the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya racetrack, brought many challenges and difficulties for Hadeca Racing Team. But the team still was able to finish Saturday with a victory and three podiums in different classifications.
During free practice and qualifying in the beginning of the day there were quite a few different incidents. As a result, the Ukrainian driver Oleksandr Dobik could not take participation in qualifying and had to start Race 1 from the last position. Meanwhile, Colombian Juan Pablo Vega and Ukrainian Yury Protasov qualified sixth and seventh overall, and took third and fourth positions (both in Group 992 and Group 992 – Class AM).
In the race, there was an incident during the fight between the two leaders of Group 992 for the second position in the race in this classification – Ukrainian Yury Protasov and Spaniard Jorge Ramirez. As a result of this incident, Protasov got stuck in the gravel, and Ramirez could not finish the race. Fortunately, Juan Pablo Vega finished without any problems and took two podiums – second positions in both the overall standings of Group 992 and in the Group 992 – Class AM classification.
Despite starting from the last position, the race was a rare success for Ukrainian Oleksandr Dobik. Firstly, he already for the ninth time this season won the race in the common category GD. Second, he finished third in Group 992, which was the third podium for Hadeca Racing in that race. Thirdly, Dobik was eighth in the overall race standings, meaning he could start from the first position tomorrow (if Race 1 results don’t change).
According to preliminary calculations, three drivers – Jorge Ramirez, Yury Protasov, Juan Pablo Vega (with different chances of success) – are contending for titles in two standings (Group 992 overall standings and Group 992 – Class AM classification).
Group 992 – Cup for drivers (provisional)
1. Jorge Ramirez (E, RGB Racing Team) – 198
2. Yury Protasov (UA, Hadeca Racing) – 188
3. Juan Pablo Vega (COL, Hadeca Racing) – 187
4. Oleksandr Dobik (UA, Hadeca Racing) – 150
Group 992 – Class AM – Trophy for drivers (provisional)
1. Jorge Ramirez (E, RGB Racing Team) – 201
2. Yury Protasov (UA, Hadeca Racing) – 189
3. Juan Pablo Vega (COL, Hadeca Racing) – 189