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Apex Racing driver and championship leader Gábor Tim won the first race of the Hankook RCM Cup season finale on the Hungaroring and increased his lead by five points over his closest rival Bálint Hatvani (Zsille Motorsport). Dutchman Niels Langeveld crossed the line in P3 after improving one position in a great fight.

If only the actual position changes are taken into account it was not an interesting race, however numerous fierce battles went on in the field. Hatvani seemed to have a slightly better start but still he was unable to plunge inside Tim in the first corner. An intense standing war followed between the two rivals; neither made any mistakes and both were capable of very similar laptimes meaning a positions change was impossible.

Youngster Attila Tassi held P3 for the first seven laps, however he started to overload his tires and Langeveld gradually closed in on him. The Dutchmen finally made his move in turn one, and the two RCM Swift Racers were going wheel to wheel for several corners before the overtake was eventually finalized.

Experienced returnee Zoltán Bárkovics (RCM) finished fourth, although he could have stood on the podium, if it weren’t for a spin while battling against Tassi. The 2012 Suzuki Cup champion found his rhythm very quickly and he was one of the fastest drivers in the second half of the race.

Behind him Gábor Kismarty, Norbi Nagy and László Csuti fought hard for the points, and eventually the WTCC expert of Eurosport Hungary grabbed P8 and with it the reverse grid pole position for race two.As far as the series newcomers are concerned, Gábor György was the highest placed driver finishing thirteenth just in front of his daughter, Anett. In the Miss family however Vivien managed to beat his father, János. Rally driver Márk Somogyi had a mixed race after spinning in the final turn, and slightly knocking the rail guard.

The Gentleman Cup was won by Gábor Kismarty, while Dutch talent Mika Morien finished first among the rookies. The young protégée of Tom Coronel is followed by a large (and in some “elements” quite gorgeous) TV crew this weekend as a Dutch public channel is shooting a short film about him.

Gábor Tim is now leading the overall by 26 points on Bálint Hatvani who would need a bit of luck now to turn the table on his rival. With two races to run there are 50 points to be grabbed.

The second race of the RCM Cup finale starts at 11:40 on Sunday on the Hungaroring.

RCMCup - András Lantos