A 50+ car grid at Mugello sees the 24H Series in good health, more than a smattering of new GT3 cars forming the core of a very different looking grid to the opening round of the Series at Dubai in January.
RAM Racing return here with a new Mercedes AMG GT3 (AMG GT3 chassis number 90), one of eight on the entry, the Silverstone based squad no strangers to the Series but here with a new look driver line-up anchored by Tom Onslow-Cole joined by two Dutch team-mates Kevin Veltman and Remon Vos.
The appearance of a second Ferrari 488 GT3 on the entry (above) was something of a surprise, the appropriately numbered #488 joining the returning Scuderia Praha Ferrari on the grid his weekend.
The newer car is entered by Zurich-based outfit octane126.com , the team previously contesting one-make Ferrari Challenge but now, with a new Ferrari 488 GT3, out in the race this weekend as an extended tyre test, but heading, later this year, to a planned part season in VLN.
The car is in the hands here of double Trofeo Pirelli Europe Champion Björn Grossmann and 2013 GP2 Champion and ex Rebellion Racing LMP1 driver Fabio Leimer.
At the other end of the ultimate speed stakes here is a very welcome entry from Romania, the #173 Endurance Team Romania Toyota GT86 a welcome addition to the A2 class this weekend, the team making their first appearance in Endurance racing outside their home country, the GT86 proudly wearing their national colours.
Another welcome addition to the 24H Series grid here is the #118 BMW M4 Silhouette, the car scoring the Dutch Supercar Championship title in 2016 as part of a three car team.
The car is racing in SP2 and has been quick, albeit not quite on a par with the GT3 front runners, it features a 3.4 litre BMW engine mid-mounted in a spaceframe chassis styled after the M4.
Reiter Engineering meanwhile are fielding an development KTM XBox, initially intended as an SPX class runner that has been elevated to A6, though outpaced by the GT3 spec machinery, the more powerful Audi engine, and enhanced aero see the car running rather faster than the GT4 spec XBows.
The GDL Racing Middle East #87 Lamborghini Super Trofeo hit trouble this morning which kept it from taking the grid, the team looking to run tomorrow, albeit effectively out for the race, after a broken pulley left them forced into removing the engine after Free Practice. Disappointment then for young Rik Breukers, crowned a week or so ago as 2016/17 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Middle East Champion.
His father Ivo Breukers meanwhile is missing starting a Creventic run event for the first time in 12 years. “I don’t want to risk or compromise our car for the Silverstone 24 Hours,” he told radio Le Mans’ Nick Daman
The Radio Show Limited crew is here for the whole weekend providing full coverage of the meeting for video and radio with Jonny Palmer and the DSC Editor in the booth, Joe Bradley and Nick Damon in pit lane.
