Norisring race 2: Kaneishi extends lead

The Japanese driver played it cautiously in the opening stages, allowing Stefan Mucke to take his second place at Grundig hairpin on the second lap as pole man Kaffer led the way. It proved a good tactic: Mucke whacked Kaffer into a spin at the same place two laps later, and Kaneishi gratefully accepted the lead.

Mucke's next victim was Saturday race winner Frank Diefenbacher, who he banged wheels with on the exit of Grundig on lap nine. But, this time, Mucke came off worst and was forced to retire with suspension damage, while Diefenbacher carried out despite losing part of his car's nose.

After a poor start, Gary Paffett now got involved in the action and grabbed second from Diefenbacher, which he then almost immediately lost to a charging Kaffer. Diefenbacher got past him too a lap later, as Gary struggled with his Rosberg-run Dallara's brake bias.

All the shenanigans gave Kaneishi a 4.8sec lead which, although he tried, Kaffer just couldn't beat. He got to within just over a second of the winner by the chequered flag.

Joining them on the podium was Paffett, who sorted his brake problem and outbraked Diefenbacher for third at Grundig on lap 21. Kousuke Matsuura, who was involved in the big shunt which stopped Saturday's race, was fifth ahead of Prema team mate Bjorn Wirdheim.


Toshihiro Kaneishi, BSR Dallara F300-Opel, 35 laps
Pierre Kaffer, Team Kolles Dallara F300-Mugen, +1.093s
Gary Paffett, Team Rosberg Dallara F301-Opel, +5.474s
Frank Diefenbacher, BSR Dallara F300-Opel, +8.099s
Kousuke Matsuura, Prema Powerteam Dallara F301-Opel, +14.112s
Bjorn Wirdheim, Prema Powerteam Dallara F301-Opel, +20.673s


Kaneishi, 114
Kaffer, 104
Diefenbacher, 100
Markus Winkelhock, 67
Stefan Mucke, 64
Paffett, 61