Sanchez snatches a maiden WorldWCR win after an epic four-way fight at Estoril
Race 2 Recap: Estoril Round Delivers Intense Showdown
After a string of consistent performances, Sara Sanchez of the 511 Terra&Vita Racing Team claimed her first-ever WorldWCR race win in a dramatic Race 2 at Estoril. The race ended in a thrilling final lap, with Sanchez narrowly edging out championship leader Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) as they crossed the line, capping off a race filled with high-octane action and multiple lead changes.
Fierce Battle from the Start
At the start of the race, Maria Herrera from the Klint Forward Factory Team immediately surged into the lead, determined to regain valuable championship points. Polesitter Sara Sanchez stayed close, with Ana Carrasco and Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) quickly joining the lead group. The quartet engaged in a fierce battle, exchanging the lead almost at every corner of the 12-lap contest.
In the end, it was Sanchez who seized her opportunity on the final lap, overtaking Carrasco to secure her maiden win. Maria Herrera rounded out the podium, taking third place after a hard-fought race.
Ana Carrasco’s Lead Extends Despite Close Finish
Although Ana Carrasco narrowly missed out on victory, her second-place finish, combined with her Race 1 win, earned her an additional 45 points for the weekend. As the top scorer in the Estoril round, Carrasco now holds an 18-point lead in the championship standings with only one round remaining. With her tenth consecutive podium finish, she remains in a strong position to secure the title in the upcoming Jerez finale.
Tight Finish for Top Contenders
Despite just missing out on the podium, Beatriz Neila finished a competitive P4, only 0.146 seconds behind Herrera. Neila fought valiantly with the lead pack throughout the race but fell just short in the final laps.
Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) also impressed, running with the leaders early on before securing a commendable P5 finish. Meanwhile, Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) ran a steady race, finishing in sixth place after a solitary run in the middle stages.
Strong International Performances
The Estoril round saw solid performances from several international riders, all of whom boosted their points tally by finishing in the top ten. Mallory Dobbs (Sekhmet Motorcycle Racing Team) from the United States, Astrid Madrigal from Mexico (ITALIKA Racing FIMLA), Isis Carreno from Chile (AD78 FIM Latinoamerica by Team GP3), and Adela Ourednickova from the Czech Republic (DaftMotoracing by Smrz) all rounded out the top ten positions.
Incidents on the Track
Tayla Relph (Tayco Motorsport) was in sixth place on lap 4 before a crash ended her race. Similarly, Jessica Howden (Team Trasimeno) had a tough weekend, crashing out on lap 7. Meanwhile, Emily Bondi (YART Zelos Black Knights Team) served a long lap penalty following a sanction for reckless riding in Race 1. Unfortunately, Chun Mei Liu (WT Racing Team Taiwan) was ruled unfit to compete in Race 2 due to an injury sustained in Race 1.
Championship Battle Tightens for Jerez Finale
With only one round remaining in the 2024 season, the championship battle is set to come down to the wire at Jerez. Ana Carrasco currently leads the standings with 208 points, followed by Maria Herrera with 190 points, and Sara Sanchez with 166 points. Only these three riders remain mathematically in contention for the title. Beatriz Neila and Roberta Ponziani round out the top five, but their chances for the title have slipped away.
Key Race Data:
- Pole Position: Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) – 1’51.706
- Race 1 Winner: Ana Carrasco
- Race 2 Winner: Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team)
- Race 2 Fastest Lap: Ana Carrasco – 1’49.872
Rider Reactions:
P1 | Sara Sanchez | 511 Terra&Vita Racing Team
“I’m very happy, it’s been a tough weekend, but I finished with a win! Yesterday’s race was hard with the long lap penalty, but today I had a great feeling with the bike and was able to push all race long. I saw my chance to pass Ana on the last lap and made it count. Thanks to my team and family for their support. Now, we head to Jerez, where I hope to win again. It’s a good track for me, but we’ll need to do our best against the other Spaniards.”
P2 | Ana Carrasco | Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team
“It was a wild race with lots of lead changes. I stayed in third or fourth for most of the race to avoid mistakes. On the last lap, I tried to get into the lead but narrowly missed out on the win. Still, it’s been a great weekend, with pole, the Race 1 win, and second place today. Big thanks to my team and sponsors! The championship isn’t over, and with 50 points left, I’ll keep fighting at Jerez. I’ve never won there, so I hope to change that next weekend.”
P3 | Maria Herrera | Klint Forward Factory Team
“I’m pleased to be back on the podium, but I wanted the win. It was a tough race, especially with the last corner giving me some trouble. I’ve also been dealing with neck pain this weekend, which made things harder. We’ve lost some points, but I’m still in the title hunt. Now, it’s off to Jerez, and I hope to finish the season strong and enjoy battling for the championship.”
WorldWCR Race 2 Results
1. Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team)
2. Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) +0.032s
3. Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team) +0.164s
4. Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha) +0.310s
5. Roberta Ponziani (Yamaha Motoxracing WCR Team) +10.596s
6. Pakita Ruiz (PS Racing Team 46+1) +16.696s
Championship Standings (Top 5)
- Ana Carrasco – 208 points
- Maria Herrera – 190 points
- Sara Sanchez – 166 points
- Beatriz Neila – 136 points
- Roberta Ponziani – 109 points
With the season finale set for 18-20 October at the Jerez Circuit in Spain, the championship remains up for grabs with three riders still in contention. Expect a thrilling climax as the WorldWCR title is decided!
WorldWCR returns for the season finale at the Circuito de Jerez –
Ángel Nieto, from the 18th to 20th of October.
