ALTAS ROTAÇÕES - Alex Ley wins TCR's Monza Race 2

Sunday, 27 September 2026 19:00

Alex Ley wins TCR's Monza Race 2

Written by Super User

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Alex Ley took his second TCR Europe race win of the season, his first since the season opener at Mugello, and launched himself back into title contention, while Marco Butti will go to Barcelona for the second year in a row as the championship leader.

Marco Butti began the race from pole position and managed to hold on to the lead for the first lap, but after struggling around the circuit with 40kg of ballast, the Italian was picked off by Ley’s BRC Racing Team Hyundai at the start of lap two.

On lap three, Mikhail Simonov then managed to pass Butti into the first corner, with Nicola Baldan’s Audi following him through into third, before Baldan was then able to slipstream past Simonov’s CUPRA a lap later.

The race was then held behind the safety car when championship protagonist Viktor Andersson’s CUPRA stopped with a technical issue just after Ascari.

The race resumed on lap nine, but was soon neutralised again after a double-hit for former teams’ championship leaders PMA Motorsport, with Sandro Pelatti stopping on circuit, shortly followed by points leader Nicolas Taylor, whose Audi was also out with a technical problem.

The race resumed with just one lap to go, giving the Italian crowd a one-lap dash to the finish.

Ley continued to hold on at the head of the field, leading the way ahead of Baldan to claim victory, though he only just achieved it in time, as straight after he crossed the line he had a front-left puncture, and recovered the car to parc fermé with a blown tyre.

Baldan was also under pressure from behind from Simonov’s SP Compétition CUPRA all the way to the line, with Baldan securing his third podium finish of the season, and Simonov his second.

Marco Butti crossed the line a safe fourth, which helped him take over the lead of the drivers’ championship by 11 points, with Ley now moving up to second, eight points ahead of Taylor.

Julien Briché had finished in fifth, but after the race he was given a penalty which dropped him out of the points for having spun Gabriele Covini's car out at the second chicane, who in turn had just knocked Adam Shepherd into the gravel. Covini will carry a three-place grid penalty in Barcelona as a result of the incident.

This meant yesterday's race winner Junui Park finished in fifth, with Mike Halder the best-placed of the ALM Motorsport Hondas in sixth.

René Povlsen was the Diamond Trophy winner, finishing in the points in 12th overall, while Giacomo Prandelli picked up his first Tenerife Trophy class victory of the season, and goes to Barcelona in prime position to win the category. As the overall winner, Alex Ley was also the Youth Best winner.

In terms of the championship, an incredible nine drivers go to Barcelona in contention for the overall drivers’ title: Marco Butti, Alex Ley, Nicolas Taylor, Viktor Andersson, Nicola Baldan, Mike Halder, Tiago Pernía, Ruben Volt, and Junui Park.

Alex Ley

BRC Racing Team

Race winner

That was probably the most dramatic finish to a race I’ve ever had as we had a puncture on the line! We had a good start to the race and just pushed on from there. We tried to protect the tyre from the kerbs and did just enough. I made a good move on Marco at the start, having the perfect slipstream and getting him into Turn 1 with the slipstream, so it’s looking good going to Barcelona.

Nicola Baldan

PMA Motorsport

Second place

It was a weekend that was more bitter than positive, because unfortunately this was a chance to maximise our points and close the gap, and arrive to Barcelona at the top of the championship, but for a number of reasons we didn't manage it. In qualifying, a small mistake of mine meant I couldn't take pole, and in Race 1 unfortunately a mechanical issue forced us to retire, which was a heavy setback. Today's race was good, we proved our pace and tried to get the maximum points possible.

We're still in the fight, we're going to Barcelona to give it everything. It'll be difficult because Barcelona isn't a perfect track for our car, but it's possible right until the end.

Mikhail Simonov

SP Compétition

Third place

It feels great. This is my first time at Monza, a track I’ve watched on TV to watch Formula 1 and I’ve always wanted to drive here. It’s great to be here on the podium, but it’s a little frustrating as I wanted more. I had just one lap at the end to fight with Baldan, but the Audi is very fast in the straight, while I’m faster in the corners. I’m happy with the result, and happy we finished the race as we changed the set-up after our punctures yesterday, so I’m glad today we were able to be fighting at the front for the win.