ART’s Max Defourny recorded his second win in the series in race 2 of the Northern European Cup at Nürburgring. His main rookie rival Jehan Daruvala finished behind him in second, with Kevin Jörg completing the podium.
Championship leader Louis Delétraz started on pole, Ukyo Sasahara in P2 and Jehan Daruvala in P3. An excellent launch and a lunge up the inside from Sasahara saw him promoted into the lead. Similarly Daruvala remained ahead of Jörg in 3rd as the Swiss driver ran wide, a mistake which he’d never quite recover from and remain behind the Force India Academy driver for the duration of the race.
Darius Oskoui tried a move up the inside of Nikita Mazepin, which unfortunately did not come to fruition as they collided, leaving the ART driver with damaged suspension and an early end to the race. Also coming to grief early on was Henrique Chaves. The AVF driver spun seemingly on his own, pirouetting and clattering the barrier heavily. As the safety car was deployed everyone was relieved to see the Portuguese driver exit his car unaided, a slight limp the only visible evidence of the accident.
At the safety car restart it was far from smooth running for race leader Sasahara, outbraking himself on the inside of Delétraz and forcing them both off and tumbling down the order. With this Max Defourny inherited the lead with Daruvala and Jörg running in the podium positions behind him where they stayed.
For Defourny this second win extends his lead in the rookie championship over Daruvala. Sasahara eventually snuck past Delétraz, narrowing the gap between the two leaders going into the final race of the season at Hockenheim.