Close wins for Ivan Bellarosa in long-distance races

Victory margins of just two and of under four seconds, close for any endurance race, featured in this weekends SPEED EuroSeries races at Donington Park. Italian, Ivan Bellarosa continued his great season with another two victories but his rivals closed the gap as the series for 2-litre Honda powered sportsracers enter the second half of the season.

Saturdays 90-minute race saw Juno driver Darren Burke lead for most of the time with, at one point four different chassis contesting the first five places. Solo driver of the Avalon Wolf, Ivan remained in contention until Darren handed over to team mate Duncan Williams. From this point Ivan, who was carrying a 40-kilo success ballast, inexorably reeled in the leader and, with 10 laps to go, moved to the front. A second Wolf, that of Gugliemli Belotti finished third ahead of a tussle between a plucky Sarah Reader (Juno), who was suffering from a chest infection all weekend, and Anthony Gandon (Norma).

With the Burke/Williams Juno on pole for Sundays 60-minute race, it looked likely that there would be more of the same. However, overheating and then alternator problems meant a troubled day and it was Anthony Gandon who took over the mantle of Ivans main challenger, chasing him hard and finishing a mere 2.034 seconds behind. Gugliemli again finished third but only after a frenetic battle with Sarah.

The SPEED EuroSeries recommences in Brno on September 7-9 Ivan Bellarosas rivals will have gained confidence from this weekend and will be out to halt his dominance of the season.