Strong Start for Yury Belevskiy in EuroRX1 Competition
Weekend nearly gone at Lousada International Circuit, EuroRX1's 2025 opener a doozy! Yuri Belevskiy and Nils Volland raced neck-and-neck, but Volland's mishap forced him out. That hole left for some major moves in the qualifying heats!
Antonio Sousa spun out early, Eliminating him from contention. Mika Liimatainen, though, grabbed the opportunity, storming ahead to secure the second slot in the final, his Hyundai i20 RX1 ripping through the arena like a force of nature. Damian Litwinowicz trailed Liimatainen but wasn't far off, ready to pounce if needed.
When the green flag dropped, Belevskiy leapt into the lead, Litwinowicz giving chase! Two drivers chose to take the joker lap on the first go, Oliveira and debutant Enlund, looking to gain some distance to catch up. Enlund's move, though, might have cost him a podium finish, as a brush with Kiss knocked him off-balance.
No catching Belevskiy, though. The Swiss speedster never let up, establishing a gap between him and Litwinowicz. Liimatainen hung tough, edging out Enlund for third place.
With the checkered flag in sight, excitement filled the air. Belevskiy crossed the finish line first, a powerful testament to their Audi's superiority. Litwinowicz followed close behind, while Liimatainen finished out the podium, left side wobbling a bit from Enlund’s brush off.
Liimatainen couldn't contain his joy, telling the crowd, "It feels fantastic to snag a podium spot in our opening race of the year! We had our ups and downs, but the team, the car—everything came together, leading us to stand on this podium surrounded by these energetic fans."
Litwinowicz echoed Liimatainen's sentiments, beaming, "I'm over the moon with my finish! I started strong and capitalized on the opportunity. Our struggles with starts this weekend were a challenge, but we made some quick adjustments, helping us to secure the podium spot."
Belevskiy remained composed, applauding his team: "Winning the first race of the year is exhilarating! We raced clean, took no unnecessary risks, and enjoyed the support of an amazing team. From our spotters to the start engineer to the guys who got the most out of our car setup, this was a true team effort."
With such fierce competition, the 2025 EuroRX1 season is shaping up to be one for the books! Keep an eye on these drivers and their teams; they'll be the ones giving audiences their money's worth!
Sprinting into the 2025 EuroRX1 season, the thrilling sports of racing showed no signs of slowing down. Antonio Sousa's misfortune opened up opportunities for others to excel, and Mika Liimatainen took full advantage, storming ahead to secure a podium finish, his Hyundai i20 RX1 racing alongside the other formidable vehicles like a force of nature. Meanwhile, Damian Litwinowicz trailed closely, ready to make his move should he see an opportunity.
