By Tarek Ramchani
Navarra hosted the third round of the FIA GT1 World Championship this weekend. The WRT Belgian Audi Club had dominated the season opener at Nogaro but struggled during round 2 at Zolder, their home track last time out. The Belgians arrived in Spain as the series points leaders and had a very mixed weekend at Circuito de Navarra.
Qualifying Race:
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| WRT Belgian Audi Club - Audi R8 LMS ultra |
After a disappointing qualifying session, the two Belgian Audi Club R8s started from lower positions. Sixth was the #32 Audi of Laurens Vanthoor and Stephane Ortelli. The sister #33 with Frank Stippler and Oliver Jarvis was further back in position ten. Both Vanthoor and Stippler were the starting drivers. It was reasonably obvious after all of the free practice and qualifying sessions that the team won't be able to challenge for the top spots. Both cars were running together for the first part of the 60 minute sprint race fighting in the middle of the pack. After the mandatory pit stops, a really fierce battle started for positions seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth. The two R8 LMS ultra now in hands of Stephane Ortelli (car #32) and Oliver Jarvis (car #33) battled with a 458 GT3, a 997 GT3 R and a Z4 GT3. Hard fights on track with the five cars switching places for that seventh place finish. Both Ortelli and Jarvis pushed too hard and they almost collided. Thankfully this time no touch as last time at Zolder and the two cars kept fighting. In the end the two cars finished grouped in positions eighth and ninth. Oliver Jarvis with the #33 Audi just ahead of Stepahne Ortelli and the #32 R8. Race victory went to Hexis Racing and their McLaren MP4-12C cars. The French team scoring a 1-2 win.
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| WRT Belgian Audi Club - Audi R8 LMS ultra |
Sunday’s main "Championship Race" was almost the same as the "Qualifying" race. Both Audis were only able to fight in the middle of the pack. Stephane Ortelli with the #32 R8 LMS and Oliver Jarvis in the #33 car did fight again for track positions. Ortelli was the last driver to pit almost seconds before the pit window was closed. That wasn't enough and the car again dropped back. In the closing stages Laurens Vanthoor was able to fight back with a clearly "inferior" Audi R8 LMS ultra. The young Belgian did a great job battling with and passing some cars. Vanthoor almost lost his R8 in a battle with a Porsche GT3 R and a Ferrari 458 GT3. In the end Oliver Jarvis and Frank Stippler finished in eighth with Stephane Ortelli and Laurens Vanthoor in tenth. Race win went again to the French Hexis Racing and their McLaren MP4-12C ahead of two Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 from All-inkl.com Münnich Motorsport.
Overall it was a very disappointing weekend for the Belgian Audi Club WRT in Spain. The Audi R8 LMS ultra is without any doubts one of the strongest GT3 racers around. However in the FIA GT1 World Championship at Navarra it was clear that the car has been strongly penalized by the Balance of Performance. In the championship points standings Laurens Vanthoor and Stephane Ortelli have lost their series lead, now being in third overall. We hope things will be better for the Belgian Audi squad at the next round which will be held at the Slovakia Ring
Photo credit: Markus Berns / SRO
More information:
Belgian Audi Club official website
WRT official website
FIA GT1 World Championship official website
Overall it was a very disappointing weekend for the Belgian Audi Club WRT in Spain. The Audi R8 LMS ultra is without any doubts one of the strongest GT3 racers around. However in the FIA GT1 World Championship at Navarra it was clear that the car has been strongly penalized by the Balance of Performance. In the championship points standings Laurens Vanthoor and Stephane Ortelli have lost their series lead, now being in third overall. We hope things will be better for the Belgian Audi squad at the next round which will be held at the Slovakia Ring
Photo credit: Markus Berns / SRO
More information:
Belgian Audi Club official website
WRT official website
FIA GT1 World Championship official website
