On a track which did not really suit the BMW Z4 GT3, the TDS Racing team managed to finish second. The team is keeping the leadership of the championship thanks to this result.  This round of the Red Bull Ring corresponded to the resumption of European Le Mans Series championship after the 24 Hours of Le Mans break. The TDS Racing team arrived as the leader of the championship.

At the beginning of the meeting, everything went well for the team with the fastest time at the first free practice session. On Sunday, Franck Perera confirmed the potential of the car by qualifying the car on the second row of the starting grid.

Eric Dermont was in charge of the start. He was 5th of the GTC category all throughout his stint. After 45 minutes, he handed over to Luno Lunardi who went back 3rd on the track thanks to a quick pit stop.  He overtook two cars and came first after 1 hour and 10 minutes of race. He double stinted and kept the lead of the race.

One hour and thirty minutes before the end of the race, Eric Dermont got on the car for his last stint. Unfortunately he got out of the track whilst trying to avoid a LM P2 car that braked too early in front of him. He did not touch anything and managed to go on his stint. Forty-five minutes before the end of the race, he handed over to Franck Perera. Setting very fast laps, he succeeded in overtaking one competitor and crossed the finishing line at the second position.

With this result, the team has reinforced its leadership two rounds before the end of the championship. The next track would suit better to the BMW Z4 GT3. Moreover, the team will compete on its own lands, in France, on a track which often smiles to the car.

Éric Dermont: “We now know that if we want to do a good result, taking into account the strengths and the weaknesses of the car as well as the Balance of Performance, we don’t have to make any mistake during the race and the pit stops. In Austria, it was not my weekend. During my first stint, I was blocked by a Ferrari while I was faster. In my second stint, I made a mistake because of a LM P2 car which braked too early. I managed to avoid it but I got out of the track. We lost a part of our lead as we were about to win the race! It is a bit tough to accept it; we are still leading the championship. Moreover, we will make it on tracks which would suit us better. Anyway, it is always a good thing to lead… ”

Dino Lunardi: “It was an gasping and thrilling race, with many safety cars which were sometimes favourable to us,  and other times not so favourable. We are quite disappointed at the end. The victory was within reach because we had one lap lead at the end of my double stint. We had just to control. Unfortunately, Eric was tricked by avoiding a car, which braked too early in front of him. Luckily, he managed not to damage the car. We finished second; scored big points and we are still leading the championship. We knew we were going to suffer here as we did at Imola. The circuit is not in favour of the BMW. However, we were about to win thanks to our strategy, our teamwork and the harmony in our line-up. We should be better at Le Castellet. We will have to score big points before the final at Estoril, Portugal.”