ELMS @ 4 Hours of Portimao 2021: LM GTE race, title and invitations to Le Mans 2022

ELMS

Oct 27

LMGTE: Porsche, Ferrari duel

Third victory of the season for Miguel Molina, Matteo Cressoni and Rino Mastronardi, who dominated the race with their #80 Iron Lynx Ferrari 488 GTE Evo and secured the title as well as an invitation to the next 24 Hours of Le Mans.

📷 YouTube live compositions.

Amazing start from Rino Mastronardi jumping from P7 on the grid to take the lead in the first lap. François Perrodo challenged him a bit but not for long until Sarah Bovy came into the battle and passed Perrodo after 9’44”.

Bovy was able to keep P2 until the first stint but AF Corse mechanics were faster than Iron Links after enabling Perrodo to take back his P2 with still 2 hours 27’25” to run.

After the Ferrari’s spins, Cressoni (Iron Lynx Ferrari #80) kept the lead, and the two Proton Porsches took P2 for #77 driven by Ried and P3 for #93 driven by Fassbender.

Mid-race: the two Porsches pit at their turn and Gattling (Iron Lynx #83) took P2 again but not for long as Richard Lietz driving Porsche #93 overtook her.

After 2hours 40’ Ferrari #88 went into the pit for a drive through penalty, going back on track in P9 of the class and losing any chance to become vice champions for the Le Mans invitation.

With still 1 hour 10’ to go M. Cressoni took back the lead fighting several laps with Richard Lietz in Porsche 911 #93. Lietz eventually took the lead until his next pit stop.

During the last stint, Miguel Molina with his Ferrari Iron Lynx #80 was seriously put under pressure by F. Laser, who was driving Proton Competition Porsche 911 #93.

The race ended in that order with the Iron Dames running Iron Lynx Ferrari #83 finishing in a nice P3 and confirming their Spa-Francorchamps result.

The battle in the class for the second invitation at 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans, was intense as #88 AF Corse Ferrari had several drive-throughs for abusing track limits and ended last of the class, while #55 Spirit of Race Ferrari ended 5th thereby winning the invitation.

📷 YouTube live compositions.

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