One of the most experienced drivers Pure ETCR has in its inaugural season is Mattias Ekström. Such knowledge has allowed him to lead the driver standings for most of the inaugural season, prompting fans of the new motorsport division to wonder if he will be able to maintain this competitive pace heading into the end of the campaign.
The CUPRA X Zengo Motorsport driver has led the championship since the second race at Motorland Aragon, and from there, his dominance on the European tracks has left everyone impressed. However, a small setback at the last round of the year will cost them weeks of hard work in their quest for glory.
The calm and thoughtful approach regarding the drivers’ championship was evident at the Hungaroring, when the Hungarian race took place from August 20 to 22. There, Ekström confessed that he raced with one eye on the title, and a mindset where unnecessary risk-taking was not part of his driving strategy.
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A contact with Augusto Farfus during Round 2, however, cost him the lead of the Hungarian event, which went to Spaniard Mikel Azcona, although the race stewards considered that the responsibility for the incident between the two was on the Portuguese driver, and he was penalized with six points.
“I understand what (Farfus) was trying to do. He was trying to win, he saw a gap and, as Ayrton Senna said, if you don’t look for a gap, you’re not a racing driver”, he said of the on-track mishap. “But if he was in my position, at the top of the championship, he wouldn’t have tried. I know my goal and I have to protect my points everywhere I can. I’m looking forward to the final round,” he finished.
Mattias Ekström’s Final Battle
From October 15 to 17, the Pure ETCR will bring the curtain down, when the 100% electric touring cars visit France to race at the Pau Arnos circuit, located about 20 kilometers west of the city of Pau. It has an ondulating layout of 3.030 kilometers and a distance between edges of 24 meters.
There, Mattias Ekström will have to drive with a cool head to write his name in the category’s history. Jean-Karl Vernay, Mikel Azcona, Jordi Gené and Rodrigo Baptista will try to prevent him from doing so, as they also have a chance to win.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
