Back on the 1000 Km of Paul Ricard as part of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup raced on June 3rd - 5th.
In addition to the GT3s of the Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS, the GT4 European Series with 50 entries, the Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe, the single-seaters of the Formula Regional Championship by Alpine and as a prestigious guest the GT1 were present on the circuit in the south of France.
Arrived Friday at the beginning of the afternoon (around 1:30 p.m.) I thus escaped the deluge of the morning.
On the other hand, I could not escape the heat wave of the weekend.
1000 Km of Paul Ricard
The GT3 program was substantial, a one-hour Bronze Test, a 90-minute Free Practice, a Pre-Qualifying Session, also an hour and a half, just for Friday.
Saturday was devoted to the three qualifying sessions, one per driver, of 15 minutes to establish the starting grid and of course the six-hour race between 6:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m.
This round of the Fanatec GT World Challenge powered by AWS ended with a double for the Iron Lynx Ferraris, the #71 of Serra/Rigon/Fuoco, starting from pole, preceding the #51 of Nielsen/Calado/Molina following the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #88 of AMG Team AKKODIS ASP from Marciello/Juncadella/Gounon 8.668 seconds behind the winner.
The top five is completed by fourth place for the #50 Harper/Verhagen/Hesse BMW M4 GT3/ROWE Racing ahead of the #46 Vervisch/Müller/Rossi Audi R8 LMS GT3/WRT.
The first silver, seventh overall, is the #777 Al Manar Racing by HRT Mercedes-AMG GT3 driven by Al Zubair/Jefferies/Schiller.
Gold victory went to the crew of the #7 Inception Racing McLaren 720S GT3 of Millroy/Iribe/Schandorff, ninth overall.
The PAM sees the victory of the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #20 of the SPS automotive performance at the wheel of which were Baumann/Pierburg/Konrad.
GT4 European Series
Diversity could be the key word of this third round of the GT4 European Series, with 50 competitors present in the paddock representing 9 brands, Audi R8 LMS GT4, Mercedes AMG GT4, Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT4, Toyota GR Supra GT4, BMW M4 GT4, Alpine A110 GT4 Evo, Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R, Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS, McLaren 570S GT4.
Two one-hour races were on the program for this southern weekend, on the 5822m track including the north chicane.
The start of the first race was given on Saturday at 4:20 p.m. in a temperature of 27°.
The checkered flag fell an hour later on the Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT4 PROsport Racing #24 of the M.Ortmann/H.Sasse pair, follow A.Potty/R.Monti on Toyota GR Supra GT4 “66 from CMR and the Mercedes-AMG GT4 #15 of NM Racing Team driven by E.Joulie/L.Ibanez.
The first in PAM, sixth overall, will be the indestructible duo J.Pla/J.Beaubelique on the Mercedes-AMG GT4 #87 of AKKODIS ASP.
The AM category was won by S.Safronov/A.Vaintrub on Mercedes-AMG GT4 #88 of NM Racing Team.
For the Sunday race, we take the same ones and we start again, at least for the highest step of the podium.
The crew of the Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT4 PROsport Racing #24 has indeed crossed the finish gate in front of all its opponents, signing a splendid doublet.
The Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT4 Racing Spirit of Léman #10 of K.Lachenauer/G.Bowers finished second ahead of the same third as the day before, namely, the Mercedes-AMG GT4 NM Racing Team #15 of E.Joulie/L.Ibanez.
Fifth and first of the PAM is the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R #17 of V8 Racing driven by D.Rappange/K.Herremans.
In AM the laurels, and the champagne, returned to W.Cazalbon/J.Lambert at the wheel of the Aston Martin AMR Vantage GT4 #89 of AGS Events.
Additional races
Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe
Class winners race 1
Pro Cup
Weering/Spinelli #61 Bonaldi Motorsport
Pro-AM Cup
Wells/Lee #51 Rexal FFF Racing Team
AM Cup
Lewandowski #55 GT3 Poland
LC Cup
Privitelio/Privitelio #8 Rexal FFF Racing Team
Class winners race 2
Pro Cup
Weering/Spinelli #61 Bonaldi Motorsport
Pro-AM Cup
Wells/Lee #51 Rexal FFF Racing Team
AM Cup
Rindone #21 Leipert Motorsport
LC Cup
Privitelio/Privitelio #8 Rexal FFF Racing Team
Formula Regional Championship by Alpine
Final Classification race 1
1 : Paul Aron #3 Prema Racing
2 : Dino Beganivic #18 Prema Racing
3 : Michael Belov #30 MP Motorsport
Final Classification race 2
1 : Gabriele Mini #46 Art Grand Prix
2 : Kas Haverkort #27 Van Amersfoort Racing
3 : Paul Aron #3 Prema Racing
Sports Club powered by Curbstone
Based on Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS press report