Tziortzis does Cyprus proud at Brands Hatch
In front of 50,000 fans who packed the iconic Brands Hatch track in England, Vladimir Tziortzis was in great form, winning both races of the EURO NASCAR 2 category, proudly raising the Cypriot flag to the highest step of the podium.
Tziortzis had won both races in the season premiere held in Valencia and now seems to be one gear ahead of the competition. In his fourth season in the championship it was Tziortzis’ first wins away from Valencia. He has now also opened up a gap at the top of the standings.
In Valencia the victories came relatively comfortably but it was not the same in Britain where the Cypriot driver of Academy Motorsport / Alex Caffi Motorsports had to work very hard. In the first race he started from third position and overtook both Doubek and Naska to cut the lead.
On Sunday (the weather was rainy. Tziortzis started from pole position but wet weather specialist Paul Jouffreau passed him at the start and even built a gap. As the track dried out, the closer Tziortzis got to pass the Frenchman mid-race. However, he lost the racing line and with it the lead, so he was forced to put his head down again and push the Frenchman to take the lead with a second pass just before the end.
“I expected it to be tough in the wet as I come from an island where we have sun all year round! I’m very happy with both my performance and the work the team did all three days,” said Tziortzis who then stuck his fourth winner’s sticker above the driver’s door.
It’s no exaggeration to say he had the best race of his NASCAR career.
The two PRO races
Tziortzis had an epic race in the NASCAR PRO class on Sunday where he managed to finish 8th having started last (25th). The success of gaining 17 positions is huge by the standards of the championship where overtaking is not so easy. The reason why Tziortzis started from 25th position is that in Saturday’s race he didn’t set a time after he retired a few metres after the start with a cut gas pedal.
However, he leads in the rookie category (Junior Trophy) after two rounds and there is still a way to go as four of the twelve races of the season have been completed, however, the best ten races will count in the final standings, of which two will be those of the last round of the championship where points count double.
The next race will take place in Rome on 8-9 July. Italy is the home venue for both Tziortzis’ team and his big rival Alberto Naska.
Tziortzis is racing with the support of the Cyprus Sports Organisation and the Ministry of Tourism, sponsored by ALCO Filters, ENEOS Motor Oil and Psaltis Auto Parts and supported by Televantos Used Trucks, Sana Hiltonia and Daytona Circuit.