GTE
The GTE race at Paul Ricard had some great racing from the start, was interrupted by a pair of Safety Car periods, and ended with more great action for the final podium position, but long gaps for the top 2.
Formula Racing took the win, and an increased points lead into the final round where, realistically, the title is theirs to lose.
The initial advantage came courtesy of an excellent early stint from Johnny Laursen, described by his team-mates as his best ever, that put him well in touch with a battling Alexander Talkanitsa Jr and Aaron Scott, the Englishman having repeated his charge to the front from the Red Bill Ring but this time he was unable to pull away.
Talkanitsa’a charge was blunted by a touch from Michael Munemann’s Liger that pitched the #56 AT Racing Ferrari into a spin.
Henry Hassid had a good early stint in the #52 Marc VDS BMW meanwhile, well into the mix before the first Safety Car at 70 minutes elapsed, scrambled to allow recovery of a stranded Ginetta LMP3.
At that point Laursen led from Priaulx, now aboard the BMW with the #60 car taking a big time advantage courtesy of not being caught behind the Safety car whilst the remaining GTEs all were!
The AT Racing Ferrari was still third at this point, though track limits penalties would later ruin their run.
The #55 AF Ferrari had dropped back to be sandwiched between the two Porsches, Phil Keen in the #86 Gulf Racing 911 RSR and Marco Mapelli aboard the #88 Proton Porsche.
It was Mapelli that was on a charge after the Safety car, he was soon by the #55 and the #86 with Scott struggling for grip and Rory Butcher putting in a fine charge in the #66 JMW Ferrari.
Just after the halfway point the Safety Car was scrambled again, this time to allow recovery of the battered Murphy Oreca, and again the #60 Formula Racing car profited, another wave by effectively sealed the race for them with the BMW this time joining its brethren a lap down, though some of them would fall two laps back as a result!
Jesse Krohn was now at the wheel of the Z4 whih would power on to second position with Mike Wainwright putting in a good stint in the #86 Porsche as the middle order started to heat up, a delayed Richard Lietz in the #88 Porsche, and Johnny Cocker in the #66 JMW Ferrari starting to make progress up the order from 7th and 8th.
With 80 minutes to go the battling pair were up to 4th and 5th, 20 minutes later, after then next round of pit stops third and fourth, with Cocker still ahead, an excellent stint from a pair of quality drivers.
The final stop for JMW put Rory Butcher in the car and he attacked again, rejoining fifth and going by both Adam Carroll and Marco Mapelli to claim a hard-earned third place.
It was a good race in parts, but reminded us again that in mixed class racing a full course yellow/ slow zones system works far, far better than a Safety Car, though as the teams will attest, there are cost advantages to the older system.
GTC
The GTC class saw a race long battle, consisting mainly of early leaders No.63 AF Corse Ferrari, the No.59 TDS Racing BMW Z4 and the No.62 AF Corse Ferrari.
Giorgio Roda led much of the early stages of the races, but the TDS Racing BMW Z4 of Eric Dermont stayed in touch, building useful foundations for Dino Lunardi and then Franck Perera to provide sufficient pace to emerge as leaders after the final stops.
After a relatively quiet start the No.62 Ferrari in the hands of Thomas Flohr, scintillating stints from Francesco Castellacci and then Stuart Hall ensured the class battle went right to the end of the race as the British driver attempted to reel-in Perera. Ultimately it was in vein as the BMW had enough of a gap to convert another maximum score to add to the one gained at Silverstone in April.
It was TDS Racing’s second win of the season after its opening race victory at Silverstone, and the result puts them formerly in control of the point’s standings as they now sit further atop the table, with a 13-point gap over the No.62 crew.
“The weekend was very good, exceptional really,” said a delighted Lunardi after the race. “Eric (Dermont) was fantastic and we had no issues. Franck (Perera) as is usual was great. We now have 13 points advantage in the GTC class, so we have met all our aims so far and we go to Estoril very confident we can finish the job.”
Completing the GTC podium was the Massive Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT3 of Simon Moller, Kristian Poulsen and Casper Elgaard. It was a well-deserved result for the new for 2015 Danish team who celebrated a second consecutive third place.
