Free Practice 1
Ran under the sun, the first hour practice session saw several drivers explore the limits of the track.
In the end, G.Castelli/P.Salini (Speed Car #444 Ginetta G55 GT4) outdistanced H.Hassid/S.Palette (Martinet By Almeras #18 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4) for 0.080" and M.Rodrigues/G.Guilvert (Sainteloc Racing #69 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4)
R.Consani/B.Lariche (Speed Car #8 Ginetta G55 GT4), leaders of the Drivers' classification, had to content themselves with the 15th time of this morning session.
G.Cabanne/F.Michal (CMR #666 Ginetta G55 GT4) were taking the best on Lamic brothers (Vic Team #54 Ginetta G55 GT4)
Free Practice 2
M.Rodrigues/G.Guilvert (Sainteloc Racing #69 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4) finished the second free practice session at the top of the timesheet with a time 1:58.600.
In the AM category, G.Cabanne/F.Michal (CMR #666 Ginetta G55 GT4) raised themselves again at the top of the hierarchy.
Several incidents came to truncate this second free session with in particular a red flag of several minutes following a crash of the McLaren 570S GT4 n ° 333 of Bullit Racing whitc ended up in the wall.
Qualifying 1
In 1:57.374, S.Tribaudini (CMR #111 Ginetta G55 GT4) signed the absolute best time of the first qualifying session. He became the first AM to sign a pole position this season.
He was ahead of R.Consani (Speed Car #8 Ginetta G55 GT4) leader of the Pro-Am championship.
For its debuts in FFSA GT this weekend, the new BMW M4 GT4 n°200 of the German squad Schubert Motorsport realized the best third time through Beitske Visser.
Qualifying 2
In the second qualifying session, which determines the starting grid for Race 2, it was Soheil Ayari (CMR #26 Ginetta G55 GT4) who was the fastest in 1:55.729.
D.Marschall (Schubert Motorsport #200 BMW M4 GT4) moved a notch with the second time of this session to get to the front row.
The top-ranked AM representative was P.Marie/O.Gomez (GP 34 by Gemo Motorsport #34 Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4) in 21st position.
Race 1
First entry and first win in French FFSA GT Championship - GT4 European Series Southern Cup for B.Visser/D.Marschall (Schubert Motorsport #200 BMW M4 GT4).
Author of a great start since the third position of the grid, B.Visser (Schubert Motorsport #200 BMW M4 GT4) took the lead in the first corner.
A pileup in the peloton during the first lap involves the intervention of the Safety Car, soon followed by a red flag for repairs the barriers.
At the restart, 20 minute later, B.Visser controlled the relaunch in fron of A.Ferte (Energy by ART #4 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4) and R.Consani (Speed Car #8 Ginetta G55 GT4)
When the pit window opened, a first wave of drivers, including several leaders, decided to proceed to the change.
The German team Schubert Motorsport decided to wait until the last moment before replacing Visser by Marschall, who managed to keep the lead.
D.Marschall was very soon under the threat of the Spanish A. Vilarino (TFT Racing #2 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4).
The duel soon turned into a three-way battle with the return of M.Koebolt/R.Van der Ende (Ekris Motorsport #888 BMW M4 Ekris GT4)
The battle for the lead hotting-up but D.Marschall resisted until the checkered flag to impose the BMW M4 GT4 #200 by less than a second ahead of Vilarino.
In AM class the victory fell into P.Marie/O.Gomez's (GP 34 by Gemo Motorsport #34 Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4) hands. They outstripped, in AM, F.Michal/G.Cabanne (CMR #666 Ginetta G55 GT4) and S.Debs/G.Delomier (CMR #999 Ginetta G55 GT4).
Race 2
Disputed in particularly treacherous weather conditions, a heavy rain showered the track of the Spanish Grand Prix shortly before the start, the race was eventful.
J.Piguet (BMW Team France #9 BMW M4 Ekris GT4) thought of having made an excellent departure when he approached in head the first corner while he strated ninth.
But he would soon received a drive-through for early departure. This misadventure propelled to the lead S.Palette (Martinet By Almeras #18 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4).
If Henry Hassid (Martinet By Almeras #18 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4), who replaced Palette, took the lead, he soon found in his mirrors P. Sancinéna, successor of J.Pla (Racing Technology #1 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4) .
The Racing Technology driver seized the orders without encountering any opposition before widen the gap that would increase until the finish.
Behind, the fight for the second step of the podium gave rise to numerous sparring between H.Hassid (Martinet By Almeras #18 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4), C.Hamon (Riviera Motorsport #5 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4), D.Hallyday (CD Sport #31 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4) and Gilles Vannelet (CD Sport #30 Porsche Cayman CS MR GT4).
In AM class, P.Marie/O.Gomez (GP 34 by Gemo Motorsport #34 Maserati GranTurismo MC GT4) made the double in front of JC.Lagniez/G.Depauw (BMW Team France #6 BMW M4 Ekris GT4), P.Lamic/J.Lamic (Vic Team #54 Ginetta G55 GT4) completed the podium.
FF
(Based on GT4 European Series Southern Cup Press release)