Lilja leads way at Spa

Championship leader Lilja (Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evoluzione) extended his advantage in the overall standings with his latest win in Belgium.

The day did not begin too well for the Swede though, having started poorly and been overtaken by Alex Campani, Luca Anselmi and Jonathan Giacon soon after the lights went out.

That quartet became embroiled in a thrilling contest, with Campani seeming to have the upper hand early in the race. Behind him, the fight for second place was intense, with Anselmi, Lilja and Giacon all vying for supremacy.

In the heat of the battle Giacon knocked Anselmi hard and forced him to retire before Lilja began to hunt down Campani. The Swede passed the Italian just before the chequered flag to claim victory.

Manuel Buffoli eventually took third place, followed by Emanuele Moncini.

Meanwhile, another Swede Robin Appelqvist won the Abarth 500 Assetto Corse class after a tight contest with Finland's Jusso Pajuranta.

Race 1 classification: 1. Niklas Lilja 10 laps in 28’22”428, avg. 147,84 km/h; 2. Alex Campani +1”196; 3. Manuel Buffoli +15”240; 4. Emanuele Moncini +17”333; 5. Robin Appelqvist (Abarth 500 Assetto Corse) +57”656; 6. Jusso Pajuranta (Abarth 500 Assetto Corse) +57”856; 7. Franco Cimarelli (Abarth 500 Assetto Corse) + 1’14”956; 8. Matteo Arrigosi (Abarth 500 Assetto Corse) + 1’17”891; 9. Marco Gobbi +1’25”841; 10. Silvano Bozoni (Abarth 500 Assetto Corse) +1’39”337. (The other drivers: Abarth 695 Assetto Corse Evoluzione).

Classification Trofeo Abarth Selenia Europe: 1. Niklas Lilja SWE 105 points; 2. Alex Campani ITA 74; 3. Emanuele Moncini ITA 69; 4. Manuel Buffoli ITA 51; 5. Luca Anselmi ITA 44.

Classification Abarth 500 Selenia Europe Class: 1. Jusso Pajuranta FIN 113 points; 2. Franco Cimarelli ITA 68; 3. Manuel Villa ITA 67; 4. Stefano Bolzoni ITA 60; 5. Matteo Arrigosi ITA 56.

Classification National Aci/Csai Abarth Selenia Trophy Italy: 1. Niklas Lilja 53; 2. Luca Anselmi 52 e Alex Campani 52; 4. Emanuele Moncini 35; 5. J. Giacon 24.

Abarth 500 Assetto Corse: 1. Franco Cimarelli 65; 2. Jusso Pajuranta 57; 3. Stefano Bolzoni 40; 4. Robin Appelqvist 25; 5. Alfredo Di Cosmo 24.