By Tarek Ramchani
Val de Vienne is the home of the third French GT-Tour meeting this season. Four Audi R8 LMS ultra cars are entered in the event, from Sainteloc Racing and Team Speed Car.
Race 1 has already been held this afternoon, after a very strong qualifying session earlier today. The Sainteloc Racing #42 Audi R8 LMS ultra, shared by Gregory Guilvert and David Hallyday, finished fourth. Both drivers battled really well on track, all race long, against the McLaren MP4-12C cars. Guilvert was hit by bad luck, whilst fighting for third place the McLaren in front of him, from Sebastien Loeb Racing, had a puncture, the Audi avoided it but let another McLaren from ART Grand Prix through. Overall it was an impressive race with good pace from the leading Audi car in the French GT series.
Bad luck also hit the single Audi R8 LMS ultra entry from Team Speed Car. Dino Lunardi ended in the gravel trap, whilst running in a strong sixth position with only a few laps before the checkered flag. The #36 Audi ended in fourteenth position. The other two Sainteloc Racing Audi cars were further down the order. The #83 R8 LMS ultra in seventeenth place and the #82 Audi was nineteenth.
Race victory went to the #16 Ferrari 458 GT3 from Sofrev ASP. Second the #27 Ferrari 458 GT3 from Sport Garage. Third the #12 McLaren MP4-12C from ART Grand Prix.
Race 2 is set for tomorrow. Best of luck for both Audi teams and their drivers.
Photo credit: IG Autorennsport
