Davit Kajaia claims TCR race win, championship lead in Rustavi

Georgian racing driver Davit Kajaia is leading the TCR International Series after an impressive display at the season-opening race at Rustavi International Motorpark on the weekend.

Kajaia won one of the two races of the Georgian stage of the series and took the pole position, taking a five-point lead over his nearest competitor in the championship.

Held on April 1-2, the Rustavi race was held on the track located 25km southeast of capital Tbilisi and marked the opening of the 10-race 2017 touring car championship season.

Kajaia photographed celebrating his win in Race 1. Photo: Davit Kajaia fan page/Facebook.

Racing the Alfa Romeo Giulietta TCR of Georgia’s GE-Force team, Kajaia claimed pole position in Qualifying 2 after finishing third in Qualifying 1. He was also the only driver to complete a lap around the circuit in under 1m41s.

The combined results of the two qualifying sessions put the Georgian driver at the top of the timesheet for Combined Qualifying, giving him five championship points.

In the following two racing sessions for the Rustavi stage, the local favourite won Race 1 ahead of Hungary’s Ferenc Ficza and Stefano Comini of Switzerland, taking the maximum 25 points and drawing praise from competitors.

I want to congratulate Davit for his fabulous win, he did a superb job. I am very happy for all Georgians, who have welcomed us so warmly”, said third-placed Stefano Comini.

Kajaia’s win marked the opening of the 2017 TCR season. Photo: TCR International Series.

With the Race 1 starting grid reversed for Race 2 according to rules, Kajaia started Race 2 in 10th position and finished 6th, adding further 8 points to his championship tally.

The combined 38 points saw Kajaia emerge as the leader of the 2017 TCR International Series ahead of Hungary’s Attila Tassi. The GE-Force team is also first with 52 points after another of the team’s drivers, Dusan Borkovic, contributed 14 points with his race in Rustavi.

Kajaia changed teams after receiving fan acclaim during his 2016 season in the series. The Georgian racer was promoted to TCR after sweeping the 2015 European Touring Car Cup TC2T class championship title with nine wins from 12 stages in 2015.

Davit Kajaia (C) signing autographs for supporters with other drivers of the TCR series championship. Photo: Davit Kajaia fan page/Facebook.

The weekend’s race in Rustavi also featured another Georgian racing for the country’s GE-Force team.

Shota Abkhazava finished 15th and last in Race 1 and did not classify for Race 2. The driver is also competing for the GE-Force team.

The Rustavi race was promoted by local organisers as part of Check in Georgia, a program of international sports tournaments and cultural events throughout the country.

The next round of the TCR International Series will take place at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir from April 14-16.