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Exciting Action in GT Race Weekend
The weekend’s first GT race saw Moritz Wiskirchen from SR Motorsport dominate early on from pole position. However, an opening lap collision between Carrie Schreiner of Konrad Motorsport and Eimantas Navikauskas from Juta Racing marred the event, damaging the latter’s Audi. Following this, Navikauskas lost control at Turn 10, likely due to the damage affecting his vehicle’s bodywork.
As a result of these incidents, Jonas Karklys of Team Engstler was elevated to second place, and Charles Dawson made impressive strides for AKM Motorsport, claiming third as he made his GT3 debut in the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.
Behind the top drivers, a thrilling battle for fourth unfolded between Thomas Andersen’s Razoon Porsche and Simon Orange’s JMH McLaren, along with two Cup 4 Lamborghini drivers engaged in a fierce competition. Ultimately, Shota Abkhazava and Jerzy Spinkiewicz of the Super Trofeo-spec class established a strong rivalry for the lead. Spinkiewicz managed to gain the upper hand, but a collision initiated by a late-braking Andersen resulted in his retirement due to suspension damage.
In the race’s closing stages, Dawson pursued Karklys for second but made a costly mistake at Turn 1 on the final lap, allowing Karklys to maintain his position. Wiskirchen secured victory, finishing nine seconds ahead and collecting 20 points vital for SR Motorsport’s title defense. Karklys achieved second place, followed by Dawson, with Spinkiewicz leading the Cup 4 class. Cristiano Maciel’s Ferrari won the Cup 1 category in a commendable fifth overall finish, while Calle Bergman topped the Cup 2 class with Porsche machinery.
Race 2 Highlights
The second race took place on Sunday afternoon, but not without incident. Luca Engstler’s Lamborghini faced a brake issue that left him unable to participate, paving the way for polesitter Simon Birch, who commanded the race from start to finish. Birch won by an impressive 22 seconds, and Juta Racing’s Jonas Gelzinis celebrated his birthday with a podium finish in second place. Spinkiewicz again impressed, finishing third overall while maintaining his Cup 4 lead.
The track conditions played a pivotal role. Despite the competition staying relatively clean among the top three, Ryan James encountered difficulties that resulted in a spin and a damaging collision with Przemyslaw Bienkowski’s Porsche 992 GT3 Cup. Fortunately, both drivers exited safely.
In Cup 1, Maciel performed brilliantly once more, while Ahmed Arif Alkhoori of A-Workx Motorsport triumphed in Cup 2, marking a notable achievement in his rookie weekend.
Race 3 Recap
Clutton and Orange Clinch Victory in Third Race
Photo by: Gedlich Racing
The third race was set for a 55-minute duration but was shortened to 50 minutes due to scheduling constraints. Razoon’s Andersen held pole position, and Karklys in the Engstler Lamborghini started next to him. Early on, Maciel misjudged his braking, colliding with Dawson’s car, which led to both drivers retiring from the race and the deployment of the safety car.
Post-restart, Karklys quickly established the lead and began to build a comfortable advantage. The weather turned drizzly, making tire decisions crucial as changes could only be made during mandatory pit stops. While many struggled, Marcus Clutton, driving for JMH McLaren, excelled on slick tires, overtaking competitors to take the lead.
As the rain subsided and dry conditions returned, Clutton maintained his dominance to secure an overall victory alongside his teammate Orange. Meanwhile, PRO-AM winners Andreas Sorensen and Mikkel Mac took second place, with Alessio Ruffini and Milos Pavlovic finishing third and winning in Cup 4.
GT4 Winter Series Updates
Diverse Winners Yet Elite Remains on Top
Photo by: Gedlich Racing
Baudouin Detout’s impressive drive for Racing Spirit of Leman secured the team its first podium of the season with a strong third-place finish. Joachim Bolting prevailed in the PRO-AM class, and Sander claimed victory in the Cayman Trophy.
Race 2 Overview
The second race saw a significant shift influenced by overnight rain. While the SR Motorsport Mercedes struggled under these conditions, Alon Gabbay driving the W&S Motorsport Cayman surged from sixth to first. Despite a late safety car scenario, Gabbay held on to win, while Tom Lebbon and Härtling followed closely behind.
Owen Hizzey showcased his skills in the rain, securing a PRO-AM victory and finishing fourth overall, with Cedric Fuchs making strides in the Cayman Trophy.
Race 3 Analysis
Cresswell and Lebbon Reinforce Championship Aspirations
Photo by: Gedlich Racing
Cresswell and Lebbon took pole for the 60-minute endurance race, with Cresswell initially fending off challenges before creating a significant gap. Forderer, sharing the front row with Cresswell, faced an early struggle but fought back to place fourth before handing the car to Hartling.
In a competitive second stint, Detout encountered braking issues yet finished strong. Cresswell and Lebbon’s commanding performance extended their lead in the championship to 35 points, solidifying their title aspirations.
Marc Elman and Hizzey captured PRO-AM honors, while Luisa Kahler emerged victorious in the Cayman Trophy after an intense final race segment against Fuchs.
Upcoming Challenges in Barcelona
The GT Winter Series heads to Barcelona, where intense battles for titles loom. AF Corse leads in the overall standings with 158 points, though contenders from various classes, including Cup 4 currently held by Ruffini and Pavlovic with 150 points, remain closely vying for supremacy. Defending champions SR Motorsport aim to regain momentum, while the GT4 Winter Series finds the pressure on Cresswell, who will need a strong performance to counter threats from rivals looking to capitalize on any misstep.
The weekend promises to showcase exceptional talent and competitive racing as top teams gather in Barcelona for the much-anticipated event.
Source
www.autosport.com