It was a dramatic conclusion to WorldWCR Race 2 for Maria Herrera and the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team. The championship leader crossed the finish line in first place and appeared to have secured both the race victory and the 2026 WorldWCR title. However, a post-race penalty dropped her to second place, meaning the championship battle will now be decided at the season finale in Jerez. It was a difficult race for Natalia Rivera, who eventually finished 17th.
Starting from pole position, Herrera immediately took control of the race despite the challenging windy conditions. Displaying impressive pace throughout the 12-lap contest, she attempted to break away before being joined by Paola Ramos (Klint Racing Team) and Beatriz Neila (Ampito Crescent Yamaha). The trio remained locked in an intense battle until the final lap.
On the last lap, Herrera and Ramos made contact, but Herrera held onto the lead and successfully defended from Neila to cross the finish line in first, seemingly wrapping up both the race win and the championship. Following a post-race review, however, Herrera received a penalty for the incident with Ramos and was classified second, extending the title fight to the final round at Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto. Despite the penalty, the Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha rider retains a commanding 44-point lead in the championship, with 50 points still available across the final two races.
Natalia Rivera's race proved more challenging. Starting 12th on the grid, she made an excellent launch to move into eighth on the opening lap and showed competitive pace throughout the early stages. However, an unfortunate incident forced her to run wide, costing her several positions. After rejoining, she produced a strong recovery drive but ultimately crossed the line in 17th place.
The Terra&Vita GRT Yamaha WorldWCR Team also continues to lead the Teams' Championship with 290 points. The team will return to action on 16–18 October for the final round of the 2026 WorldWCR season at Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto in Spain.
Maria Herrera – P2
"First of all, today's conditions were even more challenging than yesterday because of the wind, but I think we managed the race very well. Our pace was strong throughout and we were able to push at the maximum. The final lap was very intense. I kept my line and stayed in front, so I wasn't expecting the penalty. Of course, it's disappointing to lose the victory this way, especially because it would also have secured the championship. But that's racing. We still have a strong points advantage heading into the final round. Racing at Jerez in front of my home fans will be very special, and I'm really looking forward to it. Now it's time to enjoy a short summer break, recharge, and come back fully prepared for the season finale."
Natalia Rivera – P17
"It definitely wasn't our weekend. We had good pace, but unfortunately we weren't able to convert it into the result we deserved. Once again I made a strong start, but after an unfortunate incident I had to run wide and lost a lot of positions. I rejoined and my pace remained good, but it wasn't enough to recover into the points. It's disappointing, but we leave Donington knowing we have the speed to fight further up the field. I'm looking forward to Jerez, a circuit I know very well and where I had a strong race last year. My goal is to fight at the front and finish the season on a high."
