Duarte Félix da Costa, Lourenço Beirão da Veiga and Ricardo Bravo together in 2011
Portuguese stars Duarte Félix da Costa, Lourenço Beirão da Veiga and Ricardo Bravo have signed this week with Team Leipert Motorsport to compete in the brand new championship Blancpain GT Endurance Series. The Portuguese trio line up behind the wheel of a powerful Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 LP600 on a competition created by Stephane Ratel, promoter of the prestigious World FIA GT1. All races will have 3 hours of duration, apart from the mythic 24 hours of Spa Francorchamps.
After being "rivals" at last years edition of the Seat Leon Eurocup, the three drivers decided to join efforts on this new and exciting project, becoming the first ever 100% Portuguese team to compete at an International Endurance Championship – The Blancpain Endurance Series, which is already being regarded as one of the most exciting International championships of the 2011 season.
With over 50 cars entered, the Blancpain Endurance Series promises to be one of the most innovative competitions of the 2011 season. Lamborghini Gallardo, Ferrari 458, Mercedes AMG SLS, McLaren GT, Audi R8, Aston Martin DBRS9 and Porsche 997 are certain machines that will satisfy the starting grids of the five endurance events that make up this prestigious championship, which include the mythical 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps.
"We are proud and very happy to announce our 2011 project, ambitious and seriously professional. It will be a tough and competitive championship with prestige brands involved and a lot of good drivers, but we three together form a very strong team", said confident Duarte Felix da Costa, the youngest of the three Portuguese drivers.
Lourenço Beirão da Veiga mentioned the seriousness of the project: "I ??especially thank our sponsors for the commitment and support they showed in this ambitious project and I will do everything to dignify their names." Finally Ricardo Bravo pointed as a major challenge the 2011 season, which will have in the 24 hours of Spa the biggest point of the season: "I always dreamed to attend the 24 hours of Spa and now with two great drivers and good friends will certainly be a memorable adventure and I believe the Lamborghini has enough potential to allow us to fight for the best places in this competitive international championship", he added about the new Lambroghini Gallardo GT3 LP600, featuring a V10 engine, 5.2 liters with 600 horsepower.
The Blancpain GT Endurance Series will start in Monza (16/17 April). This is followed by four other races; Navarra - Spain (21/22 May), the 24 Hours of Spa Francorchamps - Belgium (30/31 July), Magny Cours - France (26 /27 August) and finally Silverstone in England (9/10 October).
