By Tarek Ramchani
The opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Monza was really fought. Audi with Belgian Audi Club WRT finished in a very strong second overall.
A very wet wetaher at Monza, and the race started with the safety car leading the pack for many laps. Very difficult track conditions and after more than 30 minutes behind the safety car, the race "really" started. Right from the start it was a Porsche vs Ferrari affair. Best Audi car started from seventh on the grid, yet the two R8 LMS ultra were among the fastest on track passing the rivals. After the first waves of pits stops the Audi cars improved a lot, the two Belgian run cars were able to move up to second and third overall chasing the ProSpeed Porsche. Christopher Haase driving the #1 Audi R8 LMS ultra was almost the fastest putting great pressure on the Belgian GT3 R. Mean time the other Audi in hands of Edward Sandstrom was really flying. The second waves of pit stops started. The #1 lost too much time with a problem changing a wheel, that dropped the car in sthe standing while being in P2 right before. The #2 did better returing on track in third overall in hands of Laurens Vanthoor. The young Belgian, passed the second placed Porsche but couldn't catch the new leaders from Marc VDS BMW. Instead he was busy defending from Anthony Kumpen's assaults with his very quick AMG SLS. In the end the #2 of Vanthoor/Bonanomi/Sandstrom took the second place overall, while the sister #1 with Ortelli/Mies/Hasse landed in seventh.
The other Audis finished respectevly in 23rd with the #40 Sainteloc Racing, in 36th with #30 GT3 Racing, in 41st with the #41 Sainteloc Racing and in 51st with the #98 from JB Motorsport.
Round 1 of the Blancpain Endurance Series was quite good for the Audi squad. Finishing second overall is quite good in this world class GT3 entry list. Next round will be at Silverstone, and we expect another great battle on track with Belgian Audi Club WRT again among the big favorites.
Photo Credits: Markus Berns Blancpain Endurance Series
Photo Credits: Markus Berns Blancpain Endurance Series
