Marco Butti’s return to the TCR Europe series lasted just a few corners in Race 1 at Portimão, when the Italian was caught up in a first lap incident between the Audi of Felice Jelmini and the CUPRA of Eric Gené, with Butti’s Honda Civic sustaining terminal front-end damage.

But the 20-year-old turned it around in Race 2, and charged through from seventh on the grid to grab a podium result for his MM Motorsport team on his full-time return to the series, after a year competing in the Kumho FIA TCR World Tour.

“In the first race we were involved in the crash at the start, but we’ve followed that up with a P3 in Race 2, which is good for the points in the championship,” said Butti. “I want to say thanks to my sponsors, MM Motorsport, and to Kumho. The second race was an aggressive race, but we knew to not do any mistakes as we needed the points and the podium.”

Butti’s recovery drive in Race 2, plus his points from qualifying, sees him placed sixth in the drivers’ standings.