The third round of the European GT3 Championship, which took place on the Spanish track of Navarra, couldn’t be more successful for the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, who took its second win of the season, in an exciting and closely-fought Race 2. Grégory Franchi and Enzo Ide imposed their Audi R8 LMS thanks to a perfect overtaking by Ide in the very last lap! With this success, and the 6th place obtained in Race 1, the Belgian duo significantly reduces the gap in the overall standings of the FIA GT3, where they lay now in 3rd position, only 7 points from the top.
It definitely was a week-end of strong emotions for the Belgian squad. On Saturday, Greg and Enzo could certainly have some regrets. The Belgian pair (with Ide at the wheel in the first stint after having qualified 8th) had climbed up positions during the race and could envisage a podium finish, which vanished in the final laps, as Greg Franchi was stuck behind a lapped car for a long while. As the temperature of all systems dropped because of the slow-down, the engine went into “security mode”, which further slowed down the car. Three positions were lost and the Audi crossed the line in sixth position.
Luckily, Sunday’s Race 2 would bring the sweetest revenge. Greg Franchi had qualified the car in 5th position and after a faultless first stint, he gave it in 3rd position to Enzo Ide, who charged during all his stint, taking second position and making up the disadvantage with respect to the leading BMW of Harrie Kolen, whom he would catch few laps from the chequered flag and then pass in the very last lap! “The pit crew kept telling me over the radio that I could make it and I kept pushing very hard”, told an elated Ide after the race. “I knew there was only one corner where I could attempt passing, and that was what I did in the very last lap. It was tight but clean, I just went for it and it worked! It is a very nice day for us, because we proved that with the new Balance of Performance, we are in a fairer playing field with respect to our competitors. Although qualifying times still show some difference, the situation is now much better than at the beginning of the season.”
Pierre Dieudonné, WRT’s Sports Director, conceded: “There was a sweet-and-sour sensation among all of us after Saturday’s race, but today everything went perfectly and I must congratulate our drivers for their reaction and the extraordinary performance they put on today.” From his side, Vincent Vosse stressed: “It was a superb demonstration by everybody, the team, who did a great job, the car, which proved competitive, and most of all, the drivers, who were outstanding today. Still, I would have liked to see our second car racing here as well, and I know that’s what Didier André wanted too, it’s a pity it wasn’t possible, as I think we could have had the two cars fighting for the win.”
With two wins under the belt, the Belgian Audi Club WRT Team is now back in the top-3 in the overall standings of the series, whose next round will be in only two weeks time, on the French circuit of Le Castellet.
Source : Belgian Audi Club Team WRT