By Johan Laubscher
Monza hosted the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series this weekend, the event that was also the opening round of the new Blancpain GT Series.
Seven Audi R8 LMS ultra cars took part, three from Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, two from Sainteloc Racing and one each from Brothers Racing Team and Team Parker Racing.
Qualifying saw three Audis inside of the top ten, with the #1 WRT R8 LMS ultra in fifth, ahead of the #26 Sainteloc R8 LMS ultra in sixth. The #3 WRT car was ninth.
The three hour race was held on Sunday and concluded with a strong
podium finish for Sainteloc Racing, who placed second with their #26 R8 LMS
ultra of Edward Sandström, Stephane Ortelli and Gregory Guilvert. The #1 WRT
Audi narrowly missed the overall podium and finished fourth. These were the
only two Audis within the top twenty.
Brothers Racing Team finished twenty-seventh and Team Parker Racing, who suffered a late race crash, was classified in twenty-eighth. The remaining three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were classified in positions thirty through thirty-two, with the #4 and #3 WRT entries ahead of the #25 Sainteloc Racing R8 LMS ultra.
Brothers Racing Team finished twenty-seventh and Team Parker Racing, who suffered a late race crash, was classified in twenty-eighth. The remaining three Audi R8 LMS ultra cars were classified in positions thirty through thirty-two, with the #4 and #3 WRT entries ahead of the #25 Sainteloc Racing R8 LMS ultra.
Round two of the Blancpain Endurance Series will be held at Brand Hatch
from 17 -18 May. The second round of the Blancpain GT Series will be the opening
round of the Blancpain Sprint Series at Nogaro from 18-21 April.
Photo credit: Autodromo Nazionale Monza
