A new name took to the top step of the FIM Women’s Circuit Racing World Championship as Sara Sanchez (511 Terra&Vita Racing Team) claimed her first win in Race 2 of the Estoril Round. Sanchez has consistently been in the lead group throughout the season, standing on the podium seven times prior to the visit to the Circuito Estoril. She came out on top in an epic last-lap battle against Ana Carrasco (Evan Bros Racing Yamaha Team) in Race 2 to claim her first victory in the Championship and mathematically keep her in title contention heading to Jerez.

Sanchez took fourth in Friday’s Tissot Superpole session and was up against it in Race 1 thanks to a Long Lap Penalty, which she was given for the crash at Cremona in Race 2 which took out Maria Herrera (Klint Forward Factory Team). She finished fourth in Race 1 at Estoril despite the red flags curtailing the race, and she set the fastest lap of the race to lead away the Race 2 grid from pole position on Sunday.

Race 2 was another epic four-way scrap, with Sanchez, Carrasco and Herrera joined by Beatriz Neila (Ampito / Pata Prometeon Yamaha). Carrasco led the final lap until the final corner, when Sanchez got a good run out of Turn 13 and utilised the slipstream to great effect, passing the #22 just before the finish line to take victory by 0.032s, the second-smallest winning margin in WorldWCR this season. It was Sanchez’s first of the year as she became the third different victor in 2024.

Discussing her first win, an emotional Sanchez said: “Race 1 was a very difficult race because of the Long Lap Penalty but today I had a good feeling with the bike. I pushed from the first lap to the last lap. On the last lap, I tried to pass Ana. I finally won! I’ve been waiting for this all season.”

Next up for the WorldWCR field is a visit to Jerez for the season finale, which will also decide this year’s title. Carrasco has a healthy points lead heading to Spain, leading Herrera by 18 points while Sanchez is 42 back from the lead. The trio are in mathematical contention, although Sanchez will need a lot of luck and results to go her way.

When she was asked about repeating her win at Jerez, the #64 said: “I hope so! I think Jerez is a good circuit for all the Spanish girls, so I think it’ll be difficult, but we’ll try to win again.”

Watch Tissot Superpole and both races from the title decider at Jerez for FREE on the WorldWCR YouTube channel!

Source: WorldSBK.com