Team Brazil and Team Czechia will share the front row of the grid for the Esports GT Final later today after both claimed victory in this morning’s Semi-Finals.
With the race distances increased to an hour, and with each team required to make a mandatory fuel stop, the Semi-Finals featured extra jeopardy.
Brazil proved unstoppable in the opening Semi-Final, with Igor De Oliveira Rodrigues continuing his strong form from Friday to take a lights-to-flag win in a race shortened by a technical issue.
The Brazil car made an early getaway and pulled a five-second lead before taking its mandatory pit stop, rejoining clear of Team Germany’s Niklas Houben. The drama came when a technical issue caused Team Spain’s Andres Mesa Eguiagaray to disconnect when running third. The race was red flagged, and the result declared a lap back as the contest had passed the 75% point.
Standout performers included Team France, which qualified by winning yesterday’s Last Chance race and made up 10 places to finish sixth. The early stoppage did mean 2022 gold medallist Team United Kingdom was eliminated in 11th.
Team Czechia dominated the second outing, with Vojtech Fiala running well clear to set up a head-to-head with Brazil in the Final. Team Belgium was second with Mathias Kühn and Team Chile’s Angel Inostroza third. Special mention to Team Australia’s Philippa Boquida, who was spun out at the start but fought back to an impressive ninth.
The Final is set for 16:50 local time.