The 18-year-old Spanish driver, Eric Gené, heads into his home race in a joint-lead of the standings alongside his rival, Marco Butti. Driving a second-generation CUPRA Leon, the second-generation touring car racer has the opportunity to win the European title on his first attempt at his home circuit, a home advantage that also brings extra pressure.

Gené can point to several moments throughout the year where he’s dropped points. Controversial clashes at the season opener in Portugal and the last round in Austria have cost him valuable positions and moved him down the standings. However, these incidents are minor blemishes on an otherwise exceptional season for the young driver, who also leads the Youth Best trophy for under-21 drivers heading into the weekend.

What does he need to do to win the title?

Gené is currently tied on points with Butti, so his primary goal is simply to outscore him. In the event of a tiebreak, Gené is currently in second place because Butti has more second-place finishes (both drivers have one win). However, these podium statistics are likely to change throughout the weekend.

While Eric will need to keep a close eye on his performance relative to Butti, there are three other drivers close behind him in the standings. With countless possible outcomes, his best strategy is to focus on going fast and scoring as many points as possible.