Alex Annivas leads the Clio pack during the NGK Racing Series Race 1 at Dubai Autodrome

22 February 2013- Costas Papantonis was untouchable in the NGK Racing Series at Dubai Autodrome todayas he powered to two victories unchallenged, but the action was behind him as the Clio Cup drivers slugged it out for top honours and delivered a feast of close racing in the process.

Papantonis in the Gulf Petrochem SEAT lamented the lack of challengers as he romped to overall and class wins in both races, but was nevertheless satisfied with his day, “We had some problems with the car last time we raced. So it was good to sort these out and prove the car can win again. But it is a shame there is no one to compete against in my class at the moment. Hopefully more drivers will return in the future.”

“For us it was a good opportunity to work on developing the car. To test some different engine and setup options. So in the end it was a productive day,” said the multiple UAE touring car champion.

With Rupesh Channake sidelined in the Lap57 Honda it was up to Jonathan Mullan, in the sole remaining Honda, to fend off a gang of Renault Clio’s all intent on Class 2 and, the ‘race within a race’, Clio Cup honours.

Action started early as newcomer Guillaume Simonnet crashed in Turn 3, of the Dubai Autodrome International Circuit, during qualifying, and was unable to make it on to the grid due to damage sustained by his Clio. A shame for the impressive rookie who would have started third had he not had the mishap.

An indication of how close things are at the front in the Clio Cup, was apparent as the top five drivers were separated by less than a second in qualifying, thus setting the stage for some very close racing on the day.

Reigning Clio Cup champion Alex Annivas qualified fastest of the Renault brigade and set the pace from the moment the lights went out at the start of race one. He was pursued relentlessly by the Moutran brothers Sami and Ramzi, with Will Morrison also in the mix.

Annivas was forced to use all his race craft and more to keep Ramzi Moutran in check. This allowed Morrison to close in on the leaders, and when it mattered he pounced to take second place, trailing winner Annivas by a mere 0.179 seconds as they crossed the finish line side by side, with Ramzi Moutran having to settle for third and Sami Moutran fourth. Mullan was fifth in the sole Honda.

Clio Cup Race 2 winner Alex Annivas (second right) on the podium with third placed Ramzi Moutran (left) and second placed Will Morrison (right)

Race two was a similar story with Papantonis racing off into the distance unchallenged, and behind him a hardcore battle between the Clio Cup pace setters ensued again, with Annivas fending off the attentions of the Morrison and the Moutran brothers.

It was nail biting stuff, side by side racing, bumper to bumper, door handle to door handle – all the cliches rolled into one race. In the end Annivas made it two out of two in what will go down as the closest race so far this season in the NGK Racing Series.

Ramzi Moutran bounced back to take second and Morrison third – the pace setting trio separated by 0.663 seconds as they crossed the line three abreast.

Next up was Sami Moutran who was challenging Annivas for the class lead early in the race, when he ran out of grip and had to go wide off track, this cost him time which he tried gamely to make up but had to settle for fourth in the end. Mullan was again fifth in class.

Annivas summed up his day, “This was one of the toughest races we have had in a long time. It was hard work to get both wins with such a good group of drivers. I was defending, attacking, holding station – doing whatever it took to hang on to the lead. In the end it was enough, but it was very close. It feels like I did half a season of racing in one day!”

Ramzi Moutran said, “It was hard day’s work in the cockpit. Really close racing, bumper to bumper stuff. But today Alex was on the boil and hard to beat. Well done to him.”

Round 11 and Round 12 of the 2012-2013 NGK Racing Series will take place at Dubai Autodrome on 8 March