Spanish-Swiss duo give a third consecutive win to the Lexus RC-F and take points lead
First podium for the Teo Martín BMW of Bouveng-Rueda (2nd) and for the Spirit of Race Ferrari of Ramos-Mac (3rd)
Maiden Pro-Am win for the Bentley of Jordan Racing with Witt-Meadows
Moiseev-Rizzo (Kaspersky Motorsport Ferrari) win in Am
Building on the pole taken in the morning, Albert Costa and Philipp Frommenwiler notch up another Race 1 win tofor Emil Frey, making it a third success for the Lexus RCF.
On a sunny and very warm day at Spa-Francorchamps, the duo mastered a perfect race to beat the Teo Martín Motorsport BMW M6 of Victor Bouveng-Fran Rueda, who took their
maiden podium, and the Spirit of Race Ferrari 488 of Mikkel Mac-Miguel Ramos. Costa/Frommenwiler now lead the championship standings.
Jordan Racing celebrated the first Pro-Am win for the Bentley Continental, which carried on its doors the hashtag #Manchester in support to the victims of the recent attack. Jordan's Witt-Michael Meadows beat the McLaren of Rob Bell-Shaun Balfe and the Drivex Mercedes of Marcelo Hahn-Allam Khoadair. In GT-Am, it was a successful return for the Kaspersky Motorsport Ferrari of Alex Moiseev-Davide Rizzo.
THE RACE – 24 cars line up on the grid, with the only absence of the Sports&You Mercedes of Basso-Figueiredo, damaged in Friday’s accident. It’s a quiet start on a very warm afternoon at Spa, with Costa keeping the advantage of the pole over Mac, Bell, Ledogar, Rueda and Dolby, who drops a few positions on the first lap, passed by Szymkowiak, Caldarelli and Liuzzi. At La Source on lap 3, there is a contact in the group, as Konrad misses his breaking hitting Sini. The safety-car is out to allow recovery of the cars and debris.
The race resumes two laps later, but it’s again neutralized shortly after as Szymkowiak attempts an unfeasible overtake on Ledogar on the inside of the first corner at the Combes chicane. The two cars collide and spin but the McLaren remains stuck in the middle of the track. During the SC period there is also a blown rear right tire for Liuzzi.
Lap 8 sees the second restart and an intense battle between Szymkowiak and Biagi, with also Dolby and Fontana passing. Further aback, Benham and Hahn are also having some
rubbing. In the lead, Costa, Mac and Bell are joined by Caldarelli, with Rueda keeping fifth, while the other Lexus Farnbacher stops with a technical problem.
The driver change opens and Rueda is the first one to stop, while Szymkowiak gets a drive-through for the earlier incident. After all changes, Frommenwiler leads with 9 seconds on Bouveng, and 17 on Ramos. Then, Postiglione and Cioci, while Piquet wins a short duel with Balfe and Meadows for 6th. Liberati, Enge and Venturini are in another fight right
behind.
Venturini has a scary moment on a kerb, Fu Songyong goes off-track while the best duel is between Postiglione and Cioci for P4. The Ferrari won’t be able to pass and in lap 24,
suffers a puncture which ruins its race. A similar misfortune occurs to Enge, while Pierburg retires.
The claong stages see Balfe and Postiglione getting a 5-second penalty for track limits, with the latter losing P4 to Piquet. Meadows follows in P4 and gives the first Pro-Am win to the Bentley, while Rizzo takes the Am honours.
QUOTES:
Albert Costa: “It was a great sensation to take again a pole this morning, after many
years without racing, and it’s equally great to take a second win! The car was perfect and
we had a very consistent race, resisting well to the pressure of the Ferrari.”
Philipp Frommenwiler: “It’s really a great start of the season, we could never expect
that, but the team is doing a fantastic job and Lexus has prepared a car which is extremely
competitive and capable of very solid races.”
PROVISIONAL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 3 OF 14
Overall: 1. Costa-Frommenwiler, 33 points; 2. Balfe-Bell, 24; 3. D.&M.Farnbacher, 23; 4. Venturini-Biagi, 20; 5.
Ramos-Mac, 19; 6. Bouveng-Rueda, 13; etc…
Pro-Am: 1. Bell-Balfe, 26 points; 2. Benham-Tappy, 16; 3. West-Ledogar, Cioci-Perazzini, 12; 5. Meadows-Witt,
10; 6. Hahn-Khodair, 9; etc…
GT-Am: 1. Coimbra-Silva, 10 points; 2. Konrad- Hrachowina, 9; 3. Figueiredo-Basso, 8; 4. Moiseev-Rizzo, 5;
5. Barreiros-Guedes, 5.
Teams: 1. Emil Frey Racing, 20 points; 2. Farnbacher Racing, Imperiale Racing, 14 points; 4. BMW Team Teo
Martín Motorsport, Balfe Motorsport, 12; etc…
