A successful end to the Blancpain GT Series season for Mercedes-AMG: in the final round of the 2016 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, Dominik Baumann and Maximilian Buhk secured the title in the Blancpain GT Series drivers’ standings. With sixth place in the qualifying race and eighth place in the main race, they also sealed the title win for AMG-Team HTP Motorsport in the teams’ standings. With the #88 AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG GT3, Tristan Vautier/Felix Rosenqvist took their first Blancpain GT Series race win of the season.

Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup Barcelona: drivers’ and teams’ titles for Mercedes-AMG

With a total of 134 points, Maximilian Buhk and Dominik Baumann won the overall Blancpain GT Series drivers’ title. At the same time, they also secured first place in the teams’ standings for AMG-Team HTP Motorsport. In the driver’ standings of the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup, the German-Austrian duo ended up in third place. Mercedes-AMG GT3 driver Morgan Moullin-Traffort, Team AKKA ASP, ended up third in the Blancpain GT Series Pro-Am drivers’ standings.

Qualifying race: Baumann/Buhk in sixth place, third position for Rosenqvist/Vautier
Maximilian Buhk started eighth into the qualifying race on Sunday morning with the #84 Mercedes-AMG GT3. The driver of the AMG-Team HTP Motorsport managed to move up one position after the opening lap. Following the pit stop, his team-mate Dominik Baumann rejoined the race in eighth position, but he was also lacking the pace to mount a challenge for a position at the front of the field. The duo benefitted from bad fortune for opponents in front of them and concluded the race in sixth place. Thus, Baumann/Buhk scored one valuable point for the overall Blancpain GT Series standings. The best-placed Mercedes-AMG GT3 was the #88 AKKA ASP entry with Felix Rosenqvist/Tristan Vautier in third position. From the beginning of the race, they had a podium finish within reach and just before the end, they also benefited from a time penalty for the car that had been running in second place until that point.

Main race: Maiden season win for Vautier/Rosenqvist
From third place on the grid, Tristan Vautier had a perfect getaway and moved up into the lead after the opening lap already. In the course of the race, the Frenchman was able to extend his advantage over his rivals. After the driver change, Felix Rosenqvist built on the performance of his team-mate and drove the #88 Mercedes-AMG GT3 across the finish line in first place. For the French-Swedish duo, it was the maiden podium finish in the Blancpain GT Series. Dominik Baumann and Maximilian Buhk, AMG-Team HTP Motorsport, finished the race in eighth position and celebrated the title wins in the drivers’ and teams’ classification for the AMG-Team HTP Motorsport.

Maximilian Buhk, AMG-Team HTP Motorsport: “Having won the Blancpain GT Series title is great. Nevertheless, we can’t be fully satisfied with eighth place in a main race that was very difficult for us.”

Dominik Baumann, AMG-Team HTP Motorsport: “This weekend, we didn’t find the performance we wanted. However, what counts, is the title in the Blancpain GT Series drivers’ and teams’ standings. We are really happy for the team.”

Tristan Vautier, AKKA ASP: “During the season, we always had the pace, but somehow, it never worked out with that victory. Now, with a perfect race, we finally scored that long-awaited win. Many thanks to the entire team and to Mercedes-AMG.”

Felix Rosenqvist, AKKA ASP: “Tristan’s start was one of the best I have ever seen. The only thing I still had to do was to defend our advantage. Thanks to the team, especially to the engineers, who have done a great job. In the main race, we had one of the strongest cars.”

Jochen Bitzer, head of AMG Customer Sports: “Congratulations to Dominik and Maxi and to the entire AMG-Team HTP Motorsport squad for their title wins. Winning the overall Blancpain GT Series title ranks among the most challenging tasks in GT3 racing. Therefore, we obviously are very delighted with this great achievement. Congratulations also to Felix, Tristan and the AKKA ASP team for their win here at Barcelona today. That was an impeccable performance and the crown on a successful season in this hard-fought series. Many thanks to all the drivers and teams, and now, it is time to party.”