The third round of the VdeV Endurance Series took place on the Paul Ricard circuit on Sunday.
Once more, the qualifying session led fans to believe that the Chevy V8-powered Ginetta G57s might dominate the competition. Mike Simpson/Lawrence Tomlinson in Ginetta #57 took the pole, while sister cars #59 (the Nova Race run G57) and #50 respectively secured the second and fifth places on the grid. It was Ginetta’s third consecutive pole this season in the VdeV championship.
Inter Europol Competition’s fastest Ligier JSP3 was 1.9 seconds behind the pole sitter.
The race itself, however, offered a very different scenario. Tomlinson in Ginetta #57 led the first 15 laps of the race until his car encountered technical issues and pitted for several minutes. Magnoni in Nova Race Ginetta #59 took over the lead right until mid-race. Unfortunately, he also faced technical problems and had to retire.
Smiechowski/Hippe in the Inter Europol Competition Ligier JSP3 #13 then dominated the race until the checkered flag. In second position, the Graff Racing Ligier JSP3 #888 driven by Trouillet/Rosselo/Dagoneau finished 1’48 seconds behind the leader. It was followed by Fontaine/Decultot/Perroy in N’Race Ligier JSP3 #93. The first Ginetta (#55 driven by Robertson/White, which started the race at the back end of the field) ended up placing fourth, winning their class.
The GTV1 category offered a perhaps more exciting race. Pagny/Bouvet/Perrier from Team Visiom #1 started from pole with their brand new Ferrari 488 GT3. They essentially led during the first two-thirds of the race despite significant competition from IMSA Performance’s Porsche GT3R #76, IDEC Sport Racing’s brand new Mercedes AMG GT3 #17 (set to take part in next month’s ‘Road to Le Mans’ LM24 Hours support race, and AF Corse’s mighty Ferrari F458 GT3 #51.
On its 78th lap, the Ferrari 488 #1 headed for its pits after encountering a puncture. Paul and Patrice Lafargue driving IDEC Sport Racing’s Mercedes AMG GT3 #17 then took over the lead for a few laps until it was overtaken by the outstanding Andrea Montermini behind the wheel of the AF Corse Ferrari F458 GT3 #51.
It seemed like this Ferrari would win, but it had to come into the pits on the final lap in order to mark a drive-through penalty after a track-limit violation.
The Lafargues won ahead of the Porsche GT3R #76 driven by Narac/Cornac. Montermini/Cordoni finished third in the AF Corse Ferrari F458 GT3 #51.
Racing Technology Porsche 991 Cup #16 driven by Leherpeur/Mechaly won the GTV2 category.
The next race will be held in Motorland Aragon on July 1,2,3, 2016.
