Dressler to make debut at Kessel
In a late change to the entry list, Constantin Dressler is standing in for Dustin Blattner as the Bronze-rated driver aboard the #74 Kessel Racing Ferrari this weekend.
Dressler, who is making his GT World Challenge Europe debut, currently sits second in the GT3 Pro/Am drivers’ standings in the 24H Series, where he races a Proton Competition-run Porsche 911 GT3 R (992.2).
The German’s weekend is off to a strong start, having topped Friday’s Bronze Test by 0.059 seconds over the #222 2 Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG of Charles Dawson.
Blattner’s absence will potentially have major championship implications, with the American and Dennis Marschall currently leading the Bronze Cup in both the Endurance Cup and season-long drivers’ standings by 22 and 13 points respectively.
Winward’s Misano podium at risk
Winward Racing is at risk of losing its third-place finish from Race 2 in last month’s Misano Sprint Cup round, with the American squad having lodged an intention to appeal a decision to disqualify its #48 Mercedes-AMG of Lucas Auer and Maro Engel.
Following a three-part hearing yesterday, which was paused twice to allow for clarifications from the technical director, the #48 Mercedes-AMG was disqualified from the race for a non-compliant wheel bearing.
Winward Racing was in agreement with the Stewards that the sealing lips on the wheel bearing fitted to the car were cut on both sides. However, the team argued that they could not have known that this was against the regulations because the word ‘bearing’ did not appear in Article 1.12 of the Misano Balance of Performance document, whilst it did appear in the equivalent document for the Sprint Cup season opener at Brands Hatch.
This argument was dismissed, with the Stewards not satisfied that Winward Racing had discharged the duty Article 1.12 places upon it to check compliance with the relevant manufacturer, in this case Mercedes-AMG.
The championship-leading outfit, however, has since notified the Stewards of its intention to appeal, meaning that the penalty, and associated adjustment in championship points, has been suspended for the time being.
Pereira pulling double-duty
For the second consecutive GT World Challenge Europe round, Dylan Pereira is combining his drive aboard Tresor Attempto Racing’s #99 Audi with racing elsewhere.
This weekend he is travelling between the ‘Ring and the 24 Hours of Zolder, where on Thursday night he qualified on outright pole aboard Ajith RedAnt’s Porsche 911 GT3 Cup.
Grid penalty for the #32 BMW
The #32 Team WRT BMW has received a three-place grid penalty for Sunday’s three-hour race, following an unsafe manoeuvre from Charles Weerts in Free Practice 1.
The Stewards found that Weerts had reduced his speed suddenly after Turn 13, with the intention of giving himself increased space ahead. This surprised the following #177 Grupo Prom Racing Team Mercedes-AMG and saw the AMG take to the grass in avoidance before spinning.
Images courtesy of SRO/JEP
