New teams SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm and CRT-Sport score big on debut
Schubert Motorsport and Razoon – more than racing share Pro-Am glory
JSB Compétition does the double in Am
Almost 40,000 fans experience the GT World season opener
Huge crowds, debut winners and two thrilling GT4 European Series races characterised the opening GT World event at Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend.
The twin hour-long GT4 European Series races headlined Sunday’s action, after a record 37,892 spectators flocked to Le Castellet to witness a capacity GT World Challenge Europe field race into the night on Saturday.
The fireworks didn’t just end with the GT3 race, with the 40-car GT4 Europe field putting on a stunning display on the closing day with two hard-fought races which featured debut victories for both new Silver teams and breakthrough successes in the classes.
SCHNITZELALM AND CRT-SPORT TAKE THE SPOTLIGHT
SR Motorsport by Schnitzelalm and CRT-Sport were the two newest teams to join the field coming into this season, yet both leave the opening event with winner’s trophies.
GT4 Germany stars Enrico Förderer and Cedric Fuchs took no time to adapt to life in GT4 Europe, scoring a controlled victory in Sunday’s opening race after a brilliant opening stint from Förderer, who jumped into the lead from second on the grid to hand a decisive lead to Fuchs in the second half.
Race 2 was undoubtedly the highlight though, with intense competition up and down the field and one of the most intriguing lead battles in recent memory. The leading pack of four cars – made up of Gabriele Piana (Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW), Clément Seyler (Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin), Hudson Schwartz (CRT Supra) and Erik Evans (Academy Motorsport Mustang) – swapped places repeatedly with Piana having to pull off a stunning move on the brakes to hold the lead as the cars ran four-wide at one point.
A late safety car bunched the pack and set up a grandstand finish, with Lucas Cartelle taking over the CRT Supra from Schwartz and diving for the lead past Piana’s team-mate Thomas Rackl in a breathless finish.
Förderer and Fuchs hold the points lead at the end of it all, 10 ahead of both Ibañez and Alex Papadopulos (NM Racing Team) and Schwartz/Cartelle.
In the classes, Schubert Motorsport drivers Joakim Walde and Victor Bouveng finally scored their breakthrough Pro-Am win in their third season together, while Chris Salkeld made a winning debut alongside Daniel Drexel in the Razoon – more than racing BMW in Race 2. JSB Compétition was flawless all weekend, with Nicco Ferrarin and Julien Briché topping every session in the Am class.
FAN EXPERIENCE SUPERSIZED
Much of the weekend took place under stunning blue skies, which helped to draw a record crowd for the GT World season opener.
With over 150 GT cars in action across the two days with the GT4 European Series, GT3 Revival Series and Lamborghini Super Trofeo supporting the GT World Challenge, packed grandstands were a regular feature.
The fan zone attracted huge crowds across both days, with DJ Sibe soundtracking the GT3 action on Saturday night before it made for a popular destination to take in the GT4 contests on Sunday thanks to the multiple bars and food trucks on offer. With open paddocks allowing fans to get up-close to the cars and drivers, plus busy autograph sessions and a display of Lamborghini supercars celebrating 30 years of the Super Trofeo, Circuit Paul Ricard again proved why it is such a popular destination for the start of the GT World season.
The GT4 European Series is next in action at Monza across the weekend of May 29-31.
