The Baltic Touring Car Championship (BaTCC) round at Nemuno Žiedas ended in tragedy on Saturday, when a car left the track on the final lap of the opening Baltic GT race and entered a spectator area, killing one spectator and seriously injuring another. The remainder of the Stateta Bro Pro Bro Grand Prix Kaunas, including the second sprint race and the 2-hour endurance race, was cancelled.
On the final lap, the #16 Cupra TCR of Aivaras Remeika went straight on at the final chicane, in what looked like aquaplaning, and left the track into an area behind closed gates on the old section of the circuit, where spectators had gathered.
As reported by Lithuanian outlet 15min, one spectator, a man of around 35, died at the scene. A second spectator was taken to hospital with serious injuries. NATO soldiers present at the circuit joined medical crews in providing immediate first aid. The circumstances of the accident are under investigation.
The organisers announced shortly afterwards that the event was stopped.
GT REPORT extends its condolences to the family and friends of the victim, and wishes the injured spectator a full recovery.
Race 1
The opening race had taken place in heavy rain. The Lamborghini Huracán ST of Čapkauskas Racing had crashed during Friday practice, ending its weekend and moving Egidijus Gelūnas into the #15 BMW touring car. That left Artūrs Batraks without direct opposition for his #69 Smart Cooling by Flash Racing LV Lamborghini Huracán GT3, but rather than controlling the race, the Latvian was beaten to the lead on lap two by Paulius Urbonavičius, who swept his #7 Ginetta G55 GT4 around the outside of the Lamborghini.
The conditions allowed Remeika’s Cupra TCR to stay within reach of Batraks, as the Latvian struggled to put the V10 power of his Lamborghini down on the slippery tarmac. Batraks briefly repassed Urbonavičius a lap later, only to spin and drop to the rear of the ten-car field.
Behind Urbonavičius and Remeika, Rokas Kvedaras’ #95 VW Golf GTI TCR held off a four-car train for third until a small mistake opened the door for Darius Gaučius, who moved his #4 Baltic Karting Academy Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport into the position. Gaučius reached Remeika but was unable to attack and instead spent the closing laps keeping the recovering Batraks behind.
Urbonavičius took the flag 31.2 seconds clear of the field, having lapped some 2.5 seconds quicker than anyone else in the wet. Remeika was classified second on the timing sheets ahead of Gaučius, though it is yet to be confirmed whether the results will stand.
The next round of the Baltic Touring Car Championship, the Pärnu Summer Race, is scheduled for 27-30 August in Pärnu, Estonia.
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