On the weekend of 11–12 May 2019, Round 2 of the AECAR Catalonia Pista Gas regional championship was held at the Santa Oliva circuit in Tarragona. After rainy days beforehand that had us fearing the worst, the weekend arrived with a break in the weather and two spectacular days. On Saturday morning the organisers cleaned the layout and treated the asphalt to improve grip. A few drivers came early to prepare their cars and find a special setup for this circuit.
Entries pointed to a full Sunday, with semis and two qualifying groups per class. In the end, with only 11 drivers in each class, it was reduced to a single group and one final per section. That gave us a more relaxed morning — we even stopped for a 30-minute breakfast provided by the club.
This time we saw the return of drivers who had not started the championship yet this year, and a visit from our friends from Castellón, Raul Amella Sr. and Jr., each in his own class.
In 1/8 qualifying, Jose Luís Hernandez took pole this time with 13 laps in 4:17.298 and set the day's fastest lap at 18.955 seconds. Vicente followed less than a second behind, and the rest — Raul Amella, Francesco, Rico, Bretcha, Tamayo, Nando, Soto, Jony and Josep Mª — completed the grid.
The 1/8 final started after midday with plenty of changes in the opening laps. Even so, Jose Luís Hernandez, starting from pole, opened a gap right away and nobody caught him over the 30-minute final, keeping a very fast pace without mistakes or incidents. He finished 1st with 86 laps in 30:05.725.
Vicente stayed very consistent behind Jose Luís until lap 42, when he collided with a backmarker and dropped to 5th. After fixing the problem and rejoining he fought back to 3rd, finishing with 77 laps in 30:17.344.
Jonathan Rodríguez started 10th, almost from the back of the grid, but moved up to 6th in the first two laps, then 5th, and after Raul Amella's problems he was 3rd and held that pace until mid-race. After Vicente's issues he moved to 2nd, four laps behind the leader, and stayed there to the end with 80 laps in 30:22.352.
Bretcha, Tamayo and Josep Mª took advantage of problems for Raul Amella, Francesco and Rico to finish above their starting positions and above those drivers. Nando and Soto lost only one place compared to the start after car issues.
Final order: Jose Luís Hernandez, Jonathan Rodríguez, Vicente Garcia, Jose Luís Bretcha, David Tamayo, Josep Mª Franch, Francesco Armano, Jesus Rico, Fernando Criado, Juan Carlos Soto and Raul Amella Causaras.
1/8 Pista Gas podium:
1/10 qualifying went largely as expected. Sergi Franch took pole with 12 laps in 4:01.203, followed by Raul Amella in 2nd with very consistent runs — 12 laps in 4:04.168. Isaac Amorós was 3rd with 12 laps in 4:17.555, ahead of Jaime Lacuesta (12 laps in 4:21.971). Alex García started his season at this round with technical problems and qualified 5th in Q3. Daniel Alique had the same issue and only got the car out for Q3, taking 6th. Raul Espinola was 7th, Joan Rosell 8th, Sergio García 9th, Llorenç Villagrasa 10th, and Jose Rubio closed the grid in 11th after technical problems.
The final started with some action. Raul Amella lost four laps to the leaders right at the start. Sergi Franch, from pole, pulled away quickly with Isaac, Jaime and Alex behind. Amella had to push from the back to catch Sergi.
Jose Rubio had a strong opening, moving from last to 6th in three laps. Raul Espinola was hit from behind early and was out with heavy damage. On lap 8 Isaac's car stopped and he lost 2nd place. Llorenç also lost the two positions he had gained early. Alique found his rhythm and settled in 4th. Joan Rosell and Sergio García ran their races, though Sergio suffered several issues and lost many laps.
Isaac kept having problems and could not fight at the front again. Alex García, battling for 3rd, had a long stop on lap 45 and lost any podium chance. After 20 minutes the top five did not change until the finish.
Sergi Franch won a hard-fought race from start to finish. Raul Amella was 2nd after a spectacular comeback from his early stop. Jaime Lacuesta was 3rd with a very steady run. Daniel Alique was 4th, Jose Rubio 5th, Alex Garcia 6th, Joan Rosell 7th, Llorenç Villagrasa 8th, Isaac Amorós 9th, Sergio García 10th and Raul Espinola 11th.
1/10 PG podium:
Thanks to RC Club Santa Oliva for their welcome and organisation.
To the drivers following us from afar — join our family; the championship continues at RC Rubí on 29–30 June 2019.
Thanks as always to the mechanics who support us at every round — without them none of this would work.
Greetings to all.
Joan Rosell
AECAR Catalonia Pista Gas delegate.