Double for Porsche in LMGT3 at Spa

WECLMGT3

May 14

Read “A Porsche 963 customer team wins for the first time” to get the story behind the race restart and extention for the length of the red flag period.

At the time of the stoppage, the #91 Porsche 911 GT3 R, shared between Shahin, Lietz and Schuring was leading, but couldn’t enter for a pitstop as the race was halted whereas Iron Dames Lamborghini #85 (2nd), United Autosports Mc Laren #59 (3rd) and Manthey PureRxcing Porsche #92 (4th) did pit 2 or 3 laps before the red flag came out. Therefore they did not have to pit while #91 did and took the lead of the race in that order.

From then on started a sprint race with 7 leader changes ending with an eighth one when Lietz with #91 Porsche took over the sister car #92 driven by Bachler in the very last lap.

Double for Manthey with the two Porsche 911 GT3 R

After the restart, a battle for victory unfolded between the two Manthey racing cars and the two Lamborghini. The decisive moment came on the very last lap: the leading Iron Lynx car had to stop again for refuelling. Klaus Bachler’s PureRxcing-Porsche had made better use of its fuel. However, the Austrian lacked the last reserves to fend off his compatriot Richard Lietz, who was charging from behind. As a result, first place went to Lietz, Schuring and Shahin with Porsche 911 GT3 R #91 ahead of Bachler, Sturm and Malykhin in Porsche 911 GT3 R #92.

Morris Schuring (Porsche 911 GT3 R #91): “It was a rollercoaster of emotions – from the feeling of losing the victory completely all the way to Richie’s fantastic final sprint. Now we’ve won the race, it’s just incredible.”

After a serious accident in the Hyperpole qualifying session, the #92 GT3 racing car had to be rebuilt overnight. This was completed at around seven in the morning. The trio Bachler, Sturm and Malykhin started the 6 Hours of Spa from eighth place and fought their way back to the front as the race progressed, eventually lead the race at the entrance of the last lap but end P2.

Joel Sturm (Porsche 911 GT3 R #92): “After yesterday’s setback, I was barely even expecting to line up on the grid. But the team did an incredible job and rebuilt the car. Now we’re on the podium in second place and even clinched a one-two with Manthey – you couldn’t write a better story. I’m extremely happy for the whole team.” Source: Porsche

IRON LYNX #60 TAKE PODIUM

With Claudio Schiavoni qualifying the car in 17th for the six-hour race and also took the start of the race, Matteo Cressoni and the team’s strategy allowed the Iron Lynx #60 Lamborghini to climb up the order slightly before handing over to Franck Perera with just under two hours remaining, when a red flag was called. This worked out well for the team. The clock was reset, effectively becoming a Safety Car period.

With Perera behind the wheel, and cars ahead needing to make an extra pitstop, this brought the #60 firmly into the mix. Methodically working his way through the pack, he found himself in contention for a podium. With a move on the #88 Proton Competition Ford Mustang, and issues for the #85 Iron Dames Lamborghini, as the final pitstops took place the yellow #60 was in third place. With 17 minutes to go Perera had clawed his way into the lead of the race, but needed a small amount of fuel on the final lap which dropped the car down to third.

United Autosport McLaren in Fourth

For the #59 crew, it was a strong start with James Cottingham upgrading P4 to P2 in his opening double stint. Just after the two-hour mark, Nicolas Costa took over and within four laps, he was leading the race. Thrilling battles ensued, with the #59 running consistently within the top three. Gregoire Saucy joined in a strategically strong position, before the red flag just four laps into his stint.

As the race was restarted, the timing threw out the fuel strategy, reducing a likely podium to P5 at the checkered flag - which was later upgraded to P4 after a post-race ruling.

James Cottingham: “We’ve progressed massively over the weekend. The spec we raced in was, for me, spot on. I had a mega first couple of hours, I felt very comfortable in the car. I’m now very used to it in terms of procedures and controls … I didn’t feel stressed at any point and I was really happy with our pace. To come into the pits in second place and handover the car felt great. The other guys did a great job too. We weren’t unlucky … we just lacked a bit of luck when it came to the red flag and the splash and dash at the end, which we had to do. I think we can all go to Le Mans confident in our understanding and feeling for the car. Hopefully we’ve saved all the luck we need for there!”

Nicolas Costa: “The race was mostly really good. We had a clean race and we did everything we could. The guys did a mega job with the car set up and the pit stops were amazing, gaining us some time. In the end, we were unlucky with the red flag which put us on the back foot with fuel so we had to stop three laps short. That took away our chance of a podium. Unfortunately, that’s the way it goes. We take home P4 – it’s our first top four and we’re hopeful that it is the first of many.”

Gregoire Saucy: “The race was a bit strange for me because I started my stint and then after two or three laps, we got the red flag. It’s mainly the red flag that means we aren’t on the podium but it was still a really good race. We learned a lot … there has been so much progression since the start of the season. I want to thank all the team for that – United Autosports and McLaren. Let’s keep pushing for the next one. We are progressing race by race, so the next one can be the good one … and why not in Le Mans?” Source: United Autosports

Big disappointment for the Iron Dames with P5

From her superb pole position taken on Friday, Sarah Bovy rocketed away and controled the race at the front of the race for a long time before handing over to Rahel Frey who lost leadership in the next pitstop window. When Gatting took over in fifth, the red flag was raised. All four cars in front all owed an extra pitstop. This meant that when the race resumed, Gatting was at the front. However, a problem during the pitstop at the end of the race dropped her down to P4. The Lamborghini #85 received a 5 '' penalty after checkered flag following a hanging with the Porsche #92 and thus loses a place for the benefit of the McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #59 - United Autosports.

SARAH BOVY: “Today we are not leaving the track with the result we deserve. It’s a very hard one to take and we are obviously disappointed. During the race we had the pace. It was good that we could show that the Lamborghini can do it, but we will have to come back and do better next time.” Source: Iron Dames