The Barcelona meeting, at the Barcelona-Catalunya circuit, marked the start of the VdeV Endurance Series 2018 season. Exceptionally for these 4 Hours of Barcelona, further to a delay in delivery of certain cars, CN, GT and LMP3 ran together.
Free practices
The four free practice sessions were held on Friday, under a clear sky.
In the first session, Capillaire / Robin / Paillot (TFT #8 - Norma M20 FC (CN)) climbed to the top of the timesheets ahead of Beltoise / Bole-Besançon / Debard (CD Sport #30 - Norma M30 LMP3).
Van de Vyver / Pourquié / Cochet (V de V Sports #11 - Foenix) hoisted the first GTV1 in 14th position just in front Sarrailh / Muggeli (DEMJ #16 - Renault RS 01) the unique PFV 2 squad.
Beltoise / Bole-Besançon / Debard (CD Sport #30 - Norma M30 LMP3) took the lead in Free 2, ahead of Illiano / Ferte / Vilarino (TFT # 2 - Norma M30 LMP3).
Capillaire / Robin / Paillot (TFT #8 - Norma M20 FC (CN)) and Montdolot / Zollinger /Klein (Palmyr Team #40 - Norma M20 FC (CN)) follow the classification.
The third session was dominated by Norma with 4 cars in the top 4. Illiano / Ferte / Vilarino a head of Beltoise / Bole-Besançon / Debard in LMP3 followed by two CN Montdolot / Zollinger /Klein before Capillaire / Robin / Paillot.
The final session of the day saw a doubling of TFT, Illiano / Ferte / Vilarino finishing in front of the CN Capillaire / Robin / Paillot for 67 thousandths. Caquette / Cobian) / Enqvist (Team Virage #94 - Ligier JS P3) clinched the third time. TFT placing another of this crew Bazaud / Thirion / Caillon in fourth place (TFT #6 - Norma M20 FC).
Qualifying rounds.
It’s under a pouring rain that this day of Saturday took place.
2:08.73 such is the time realized by the crew Coigny / Borga (COOL Racing #4 - Ligier JSP3) to grant itself the pole. The first row was completed by Caquette / Cobian) / Enqvist (Team Virage #94 - Ligier JS P3). A gap of 0.720s separates the two Ligier.
On the second row, Illiano / Ferté / Vilarino and Teneketzian / De Narda / Carugati (AB Sport Auto #46 - Lamborghini Huracan GT3) best time in GTV1.
Capillaire / Robin / Paillot were the fastest of the CN, the Norma M20 FC / TFT reached the top 5, followed by Sarrailh / Muggeli.
The Race
Finally the rain got the better of the race, even if the competitors remained on the track 75% (accurately 03:05:49 for 62 laps) of the race duration for a total allocation of points.
The competitors have completed the 62 laps behind the safety car. In fact, behind the safety cars, the first has experienced some problems, hence the entry on track of a second safety car.
After the checkered flag, some crews were penalized for no respect minimum drive time.
Finally the "victory" went to the pair Frédéric Crouillet / Rodolphe Rosati (Palmyr Team # 41 - Norma M20 FC).
On the second step of the podium we find Morales / Lacoste / Robin (TFT #3 - M20 FC) Kubryk / Faggionato / Weil (Palmyr Team # 41 - Norma M20 FC) complete the box. Four CN are in first four places.
Page/Garcia/Sanjuan (Graff Racing #77 – Ligier JSP3) finished fifth and first of the LMP3 in front of Thybaud / Chardonnet (AB Sport Auto #45 - Renault RS 01) winner of the GTV1 category.
My favourite of the Week End
My favorite of the weekend goes to those who have been leading throughout the race,the unwitting heroes of this a odd trial, the safety cars drivers.
Manage three hours during the pack in these Dantesque conditions should not have been particularly pleasant!
(Based on V de V endurance series Press release)