Ignacio Montenegro has continued to build his lead in the Rookie championship, but it was his fight for overall victory with Argentinian rival Franco Girolami that was the highlight of Race 1 at the Salzburgring, as the two drivers went toe-to-toe for two laps over the lead.

Starting from the front row, Montenegro kept with Girolami until he was able to start to make a move after the CUPRA driver went deep into Turn 5 on lap ten, with Montenegro and Girolami going side-by-side up the back straight.

Montenegro was a nose ahead before the final chicane, when Girolami then dived in front of him, retaking the lead before running wide allowing Montenegro back ahead and with the 22-year-old crossing the line in the lead of the race.

Unfortunately, minor contact meant Montenegro’s Honda was now nursing a damaged front splitter, and he had a slow entry into Turn 5 with Girolami able to scoop him up and retake the lead and go on to win, while Montenegro cruised on to finish second ahead of his ALM Motorsport team-mate Ruben Volt.

“I did everything, we had a very good fight with Franco, but in the last two corners we touched each other a little bit and he cut my splitter, and when I started to feel the vibration I knew it was over,” he said.

“P2 would then be our best result, as if the splitter went down we might have lost all the positions.”