Estonian driver Sten Pentus turned the tables on Mitch Evans to win the feature Spirit of a Nation Cup, the second race of the International Toyota Racing Series (TRS) at Teretonga, near Invercargill today.
Evans, 15, blasted into the lead from pole position and looked to be controlling the race until his hopes of back-to-back TRS wins at the Invercargill circuit were dashed.
As the Auckland teen turned into the final corner on the circuit to start his last lap, he felt his engine suddenly falter. In a flash Pentus was through into the lead and he narrowly held off Evans by half a second at the end of the 16 laps.
"The engine just cut out as I downshifted so I had no engine braking for the corner," said Evans.
"Then suddenly it kicked in again but Sten was through."
In yesterday's opening race of the 2010 season Evans took the lead at the same place on the circuit when Pentus ran wide at the end of the third lap.
"This time Mitch got the better start but I really concentrated to stay close. He only made a couple of little mistakes but I was ready," said a delighted Pentus.
He closed up on Evans at mid distance when the Aucklander put a wheel into the dust on the exit of the long sweeper. However, Evans quickly recovered and looked to be in control of a gap that fluctuated around a second each lap.
After his late engine 'hiccup' the youngster had to settle for second place in spite of setting fastest lap and he now shares the International series lead with Pentus.
Third place in today's feature event went to Daniel Jilesen, from third on the grid and was a repeat of his podium finish on Saturday.
The biggest improver was 17-year-old Brazilian Lucas Foresti who came up from sixth on the grid to take a good fourth placing and secure a 1-2-3-4 finish for Giles Motorsport.
There was a race long battle between Foresti, Andrew Waite (Auckland) and Earl Bamber (Wanganui); and they finished in that order.
After two of the 12 TRS International races Evans and Pentus share the points lead with 142pts, followed by the consistent Jilesen on 120pts, Waite and Foresti on 103 pts and Bamber on 90pts.
