Although Pons led the way on the formation lap, it was Autovitesse Garage R.Affolter’s Cedric Leimer who enjoyed the best launch among the front row starters, with the #963 Lamborghini Huracan GT3 powering away and up to P1 when the lights turned green.

Oliver Baumann and his #68 DB-Motorsport Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 momentarily featured in the top three after a strong start from fourth but Perfetti quickly re-claimed third place and was soon on Pons’ tail in a lively intra-team battle for the AKKA ASP entries.

Last year’s GTSC runner-up Nico Vandierendonck’s weekend went from bad to worse after the Belgian driver had to retire on Lap 3. Up front, Perfetti found a way past Pons for second place and immediately started chasing race leader Leimer. This marked the start of another fascinating battle for the Overall victory, with the Mercedes putting the Huracan under tremendous pressure.

Perfetti’s efforts paid off on Lap 11 when the former British GT champion forced his way past Leimer, with an opportunistic Pons also sneaking ahead of the Lamborghini. Leimer quickly responded and re-claimed P2 from the Frenchman on the very next tour.

However, Leimer’s hopes of a win at Misano would be dealt a blow shortly afterwards. Indeed, the Autovitesse entry was hit with a drive-through penalty for not respecting track limits, but such was the pace of the top-three cars that the Huracan was able to rejoin the fray in third.

Yoshiki Ohmura and his camo-livered #666 Ferrari 458 GTE nicely picked up his way through the field to vault himself up to fourth at the flag, while CMR’s Pierre Hirschi and Boutsen Ginion’s Karim Ojjeh both retired after an all-BMW collision as they squabbled over P5 in the late stages.

This promoted Iron Cup charger Earle to the top five, with the Texan pulling off a great move on Qualifying Race winner Klaus Dieter Frers in the closing laps. HTP Motorsport’s Willem Paulys de Pundert finished seventh and completed the Iron Cup podium after reigning double champion Martin Lanting endured a second retirement in as many contests at the Italian venue. Elsewhere, Mario Cordoni and his #70 GDL Racing Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo topped the Xtra Cup Class, which is reserved for ‘trophy’ cars.

Sunday’s Main Race belonged to Perfetti, who delivered a flawless diplay and sped to victory at the end of the 40-minute affair. The Mercedes-AMG GT3 proved to be the class of the field around Misano’s 4.226km circuit, with AKKA ASP enjoying a two-win weekend to kick start the 2017 Blancpain GT Sports campaign.

Round two of this year’s GTSC will take place at Silverstone on May 13-14. Once again, SRO Motorsports Group’s Bronze drivers-only series will serve as curtain raiser for the high-profile Blancpain GT Series at the British Grand Prix venue.

Daniele Perfetti: “It was a fun race! We had to fight a little bit to get the win, there were some nice overtaking moves, mistakes from the others – but to be honest I actually don’t remember a lot about how it went! I just made sure to carry on the speed and continue to go fast and it worked out in the end.”

Anthony Pons: “The first 10 minutes of the race were very intense with a great three-way fight with Daniele [Perfetti] and Cedric [Leimer], and then my team-mate just pulled away. I tried everything I could to close the gap but there was not enough time. When I looked at the clock and saw four minutes left, I wished it had been 10! At the start, I was caught out by Cedric, who had a great launch when the lights went green. Then during the race, even though we did not change anything on the setup, I did not feel quite as comfortable as on Saturday and was losing five tenths in the second sector alone. That said, it’s still a great weekend overall with plenty of action on track. After all, we’re not here to hang about and twiddle our thumbs!”

Stéphane Ratel, Founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group: “The Blancpain GT Sports Club is entering its third season and you can see the championship really coming of age. Despite many series available, the GTSC platform has carved its way in the GT world. It continues to offer an innovative format with experienced drivers, one pilot per car, and most importantly a genuine ‘Club’ spirit among all competitors who can enjoy a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Congratulations to Series Manager Maryon Kaczka for her great job in making the Blancpain GT Sports Club such a success.”

Starting from pole position in the #72 Mercedes-AMG GT3, Pons, who had also topped both free practice sessions, got away cleanly to lead into the first corner. Meanwhile, fellow front row starter Leimer and third-placed Pierre Hirschi were caught out by the fast-starting Daniele Perfetti in the second AKKA ASP entry.

Skirmishes in the pack, including one involving reigning double Iron Cup champion Martin Lanting and last year’s Overall runner-up Nico Vandierendonck triggered an early Safety Car period, which also saw Marco Galassi’s Team Malucelli-run Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 park into retirement.

Racing action resumed with 14 minutes left on the clock in the 25-minute contest and it did not take long before Leimer’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 started hounding Perfetti’s Mercedes-AMG GT3. Leimer made quick work of his fellow Swiss before immediately setting about chasing the race leader.

Thus began a thrilling battle between Pons and Leimer, with the Lamborghini ferociously looking for a way past, but to no avail. The Frenchman managed to hold off the charging Huracan to maintain his perfect record at Misano.

Team-mate Perfetti rounded up the podium positions in a very strong showing for AKKA ASP. Oliver Baumann made it three Mercedes in the top four with his DB-Motorsport-entered SLS AMG GT3, while Hirschi eventually had to settle for P5 at the flag.

Klaus Dieter Frers was the best Iron Cup challenger by crossing the line in sixth position for the #3 Artega Rennsport Ferrari 488 GT3. HTP Motorsport’s Willem Paulys de Pundert and Kessel Racing’s Stephen Earle completed the Iron Cup podium.

Anthony Pons: “Cedric pushed me really hard! I had a good start but the re-start after the Safety Car period was quite tricky and it took a couple of laps before the grip came back. Still, I had the Lamborghini hot on my heels and he was really shadowing me. I played the long game and eventually managed to open a little gap in the closing stages and get some breathing space. That’d be great to secure a grand slam this weekend but the guys behind are very competitive so it’s shaping up to be another great fight on Sunday.”

Cedric Leimer: “The Mercedes is very fast on the straight line but we were better in the corners. At the start, I was focusing on taking the lead from Anthony but ended up slipping behind Daniele, who had a great launch. In the end, it’s a good result after a strong race. For the Main Race, we need to try and take the lead at lights out and hold on to the position.”

Daniele Perfetti: “I enjoyed a strong start but after the Safety Car I made a small mistake – in one of the turns there was oil and Cedric passed me again. It took some time to get back into a rhythm. It was a fun race and I’m happy to be on the podium. Hopefully I can go one step if not two better on Sunday!”

Sunday’s Blancpain GT Sports Club Main Race at Misano starts at 11:00, local time. With the grid determined by the Qualifying Race results, race winner and early championship leader Pons will line up on pole position again, with Leimer alongside him and team-mate Perfetti right behind.

Misano once again stages the season opener in Italy on April 1/2 before the Blancpain GT Sports Club makes its maiden trip to Silverstone in mid-May. The Home of British Motorsport replaces the much narrower Brands Hatch, which made its championship debut earlier this year.

Paul Ricard Circuit in southern France remains one of the calendar’s key components on June 23/24 before Spa-Francorchamps’ Ardennes rollercoaster again provides a tough challenge during the Total 24 Hours of Spa race week.

Another new stop on the calendar – Budapest’s Hungaroring – plays host to the penultimate round in late August before Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya once again brings matters to a close on September 30/October 1.

As always each Blancpain GT Sports Club meeting will feature one or two practice sessions and a qualifying session before a limited points-scoring 25-minute Qualifying Race decides the grid for a 40-minute Main Race.

The three-class structure is also set to continue, with all entries eligible for Overall honours, drivers aged 60 and over contesting the Iron Cup, and drivers racing single-make or ‘trophy’ cars competing for the Xtra Cup.

Once again every Blancpain GT Sports Club round will act as an official Blancpain GT Series support category at a combination of Endurance and Sprint Cup weekends throughout the year.

Stephane Ratel, SRO Motorsports Group Founder and CEO: “The Blancpain GT Sports Club has experienced incredible growth over the past two seasons, and – just as we did last season – adding an extra round to the 2017 schedule is recognition of that success. GT3 has become increasingly competitive and clearly Blancpain GT Sports Club’s more relaxed environment is exactly what a growing number of amateurs want from their racing. Equally, balancing GT3 with GTE and single-make cars like Renault’s RS01 not only provides greater variety and spectacle but also allows a wider range of drivers to compete on equal footing without needing to swap or buy new cars. I have no doubt the series will prove even more popular in 2017.”

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2017 Blancpain GT Sports Club Calendar
R1   Misano (ITA) – April 1/2
R2   Silverstone (UK) – May 13/14
R3   Circuit Paul Ricard (FRA) – June 24/25
R4   Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) – July 27-30
R5   Hungaroring (HUN) – August – 26/27
R6   Barcelona (ESP) – Sep 30 – Oct 1

Q – What made you enter this series in Europe?

Price – “We had been asked by some of our clients in the UAE if Dragon could run them in Europe whilst the hot summer months preclude track activity in the Middle East. Having personally participated for a few years in various championships in Europe e.g. The Bute Motorsport GT Cup and the GT Trophy for 3 years, thereafter in the Blancpain Endurance Series for 2 years we felt that these type of mixed Pro and Pro-Am class races would be too competitive as an entry level championship in Europe. Under the SRO’s organisational banner, the Blancpain GT Sports Club had run very successfully in 2015 was limited to bronze ranked drivers and was being run on some of the best circuits in Europe. We are not the type of company to recommend anything to our clients without having first-hand experience of it so I became the proverbial guinea pig.”

Q – Did it live up to your expectations?

Price – “Very much so. The ethos of the racing and the driving standards is that all the racers are in a “Club” rather than a “Race Championship”. Having said that, it’s very competitive probably at three levels; the front 6-8 are very quick – some up and coming young guns mixed with some older experienced drivers / the middle pack are quick but race in their own group then finally the back runners seem to race amongst themselves as well. The SRO divides the field into two main classes; “Open” for anybody wanting to race in that class and an “Iron Cup” for all racers over the age of 60. The racing is generally clean and whilst flexible the race directors running it will step in and discipline offenders very quickly but always fairly.”

Q – Were the facilities up to the standards you enjoy in the UAE?

Price - “They were different to what we are used to. Being the support event at all the tracks we raced at we were not in the main pits at any track – so the first race meeting we were in a sealed off tented area with each team having its own dedicated area and tent and that felt a bit strange initially. But one soon got used to it as it lent itself to everybody getting to know each other, almost like a close knit family – at least that’s how it felt by the end of the season. What pulled it all together of course was the most amazing K-Space hospitality unit designed and supplied by Kessel Racing. This portable upscale F1 type hospitality unit had a constant flow of all the various teams drivers, sponsors, guests, instructors and team managers through it – to cap it all off the food and beverages were simply sublime throughout the season.”

Q – We see that you were running a Dragon liveried Kessel 458 GT3. Why did Dragon not run its own car?

Price – “Dragon has a long standing and close relationship with Kessel Racing, and Ronnie Kessel is a personal friend, so it was an easy decision as I just wanted to arrive and drive and not have the logistical issues of moving our cars around Europe and preparing them outside of our own workshops. Besides in our big races we always hire in some of Ronnie’s best engineers and technicians and they become an integral part of our own Dragon crew, so really it’s all one big family.”

Q – Will you be recommending the GT Sports Club to your clients in 2017?

Price – “Definitely. Particularly for those clients wishing to have an entry level championship in Europe but, like I did this season with Dragons Racing Director Rob Barff who coached me all season, if we tied up certain clients with Kessel Racing technical support we would enlist the services of Dragons own instructors to provide the 1 to 1 care and the highest level of instruction required. Helping to maximize both performance on the track and the social elements away from the circuit.”

Leimer lined up on pole position alongside Michal Broniszewski after winning the day’s opening race, but it was fast-starting Nicolas Vandierendonck who shot from fourth to first at Turn 1 with a brave move down the inside. The Corvette’s lead was short-lived, though, as a result of Leimer’s X Bionic Lamborghini Huracan cutting back underneath before Broniszewski also re-claimed second three corners later.

However, the race was neutralised just one lap after it had started as a result of Jean-Michel Baert’s accident. Having run wide exiting the final corner, his Audi skipped across the gravel trap and speared back across the circuit head-first into the pitwall.

Just 23 of the race’s scheduled 40 minutes remained when the Safety Car was finally withdrawn. Leimer’s accomplished re-start immediately helped him break the tow to Broniszewski and, as was the case earlier in the day, he steadily pulled clear thereafter to eventually complete his perfect debut 6.2 seconds ahead of the Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 GT3.

Vandierendonck came home third, albeit almost four seconds adrift of Broniszewski. But there was plenty of action further back thanks to debutant Eric Cayrolle who hustled his Ferrari back ahead of Maurice Ricci’s fast-starting AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG just after racing resumed.

Ricci also dropped back behind Cordoni at one point but took the chequered flag fifth after re-passing the Italian with just one minute remaining. Jaime Font Casas finished less than three tenths further back after an inspired drive from 21st on the grid, while the top-eight was completed by Christoph Ulrich.

With just five Iron Cup-entered drivers taking the start, points leader Martin Lanting knew that merely finishing would be enough to give him the title regardless of what his sole rival Stephen Earle could muster after the American’s Qualifying Race puncture resulted in him losing further ground in the championship.

Earle was in fine form though and had soon passed Lanting for the class lead once racing resumed. After that he was reliant on the Monegasque failing to finish, which almost came to pass when his Ferrari spun as a result of contact with Daniel Vogt’s Mercedes. Both time and positions were lost while recovering but fifth in class was still enough to give him the Iron Cup title by just one point.

Cedric Leimer, #963 X Bionic Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3: “I am very happy, of course! I have only competed once this season in the Sprint Cup so did not expect to be so competitive this weekend. Clearly Michal Broniszewski has been very fast this year and I knew it would be tough to beat him. But I also raced here in Lamborghini Super Trofeo so at least had some track knowledge to rely on.”

Stephen Earle, #111 Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 GT3: “This is my 25th year of racing so I know you can have the best car, best team and best strategy but cannot always win because you must also be lucky. You have no control over that but it is addictive and is what keeps bringing us all back. I did what I could in the first race before the tyre blew but that is the way things go sometimes. Nevertheless, I am still very happy for the team; Michal [Broniszewski] won the Overall championship and I was second in the Iron Cup, so I cannot complain too much.”

Martin Lanting, #48 AF Corse Ferrari 458 GTE: “This is not the first time that I have won a championship in such circumstances! It also happened in 2002 when I was pushed off and had to think about just reaching the finish, which in some ways is easier because there are no cars in front of you! I am very happy to be a Blancpain GT Sports Club champion once again, not only for me but also the team, my friends, my wife and the organisation. It really is something worth winning and I am delighted to be standing here as a double Iron Cup champion. I will definitely be back next year; the championship is growing in stature and quality. Hopefully there will be even more Iron Cup challengers!”

Season three of the Blancpain GT Sports Club gets underway at Misano in Italy on 1/2 April 2017.

The series has come a long way in a short space of time. Just 13 cars lined up for the inaugural event almost 18 months ago, but that number will swell to 24 for this weekend’s outing around the Spanish Grand Prix venue.

SRO’s series reserved for fully-amateur drivers is also the only international championship to balance GTE, GT3 and single-make cars in the same class, which not only guarantees variety but also a different approach to racing depending on each set of original regulations.

With the Overall title decided in Michal Broniszewski’s favour at Spa-Francorchamps in late July, all eyes are on the Iron Cup battle – reserved for drivers aged 60 and over – currently led by reigning champion Martin Lanting. The Monegasque has won four times this year, twice more than anyone else, but only enjoys an 11-point lead over main rival Stephen Earle whose superior consistency has kept him in title contention.

And with a maximum 33 points available in Sunday’s Qualifying and Main Races, the crown could still go one of two ways.

Lanting’s more recent winning experience at the circuit perhaps gives him the edge. He won last year’s Qualifying Race before losing the Main Race lead after clashing with another driver.

“I need to adopt a more thoughtful approach this weekend,” said Lanting. “My primary focus has to be the Iron Cup classification rather than the overall result, which is not really in my nature! I was never a big fan of Barcelona but I have received some private coaching in order to better understand it and my opinion has now completely changed! I really like it but need to avoid the same sort of thing as happened last year when my good friend Patrick Van Glabeke and I tangled!”

But Earle is also no stranger to Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya having competed there in various series since 2002. His approach differs to Lanting’s this weekend.

“There are 33 points available and I am 32 ahead of Jan [Brunstedt] in third, so I can afford to be daring!” he confirmed. “There is also no point waiting for Martin to make a mistake because I think he has learned from what happened at Brands Hatch earlier in the season. So it is a flat-out and risk-taking weekend for me.”

Meanwhile, there is no shortage of contenders hoping to secure the Overall runner-up spot behind Broniszewski. Nicolas Vandierendonck currently occupies that position but is only three points clear of Mario Cordoni who has endured a frustrating campaign aboard his AF Corse Ferrari.

Iron Cup leader Lanting is not out of contention in fourth, while a whole gaggle of drivers sit just 11 points adrift of Vandierendonck’s thunderous Selleslagh Racing Team-run GTE-spec Corvette.

Such is the Blancpain GT Sports Club’s increasing stature that a number of new-generation GT3 cars will be on the grid this weekend. Ferrari’s new-for-2016 488 and the Mercedes-AMG GT3 both compete, along with the Team WRT-run Audi R8 LMS and X Bionic-entered Lamborghini Huracan, which are both making their championship debuts in the respective hands of Jean-Michel Baert and Cedric Leimer.

The championship’s unique platform also allows the likes of Renault’s RS01 – originally intended to compete in its own single-make series – to race on equal terms with GT cars. Jurgen Smet and Monlau Competicion make their Blancpain GT Sports Club debuts with one of the French machines that twice finished second at the previous Spa-Francorchamps round.

Elsewhere, Fons Scheltema will also be making his maiden Blancpain GT Sports Club appearance at the wheel of a Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 GT3.

SRO’s series reserved for fully-amateur drivers is also the only international championship to balance GTE, GT3 and one-make machinery in the same class. And that level of variety will again be on show in the Ardennes where 23 cars comprising seven manufacturers – including one debutant – and 9 different models will line up for both races.

Ferrari is once again the best represented brand with no less than 12 entries split between GTE and GT3, two of which are the new-for-2016 488 model. Nine are shared between Kessel Racing and AF Corse, whose drivers currently occupy first and second respectively in the Overall standings.

Five Audis and two Mercedes offer the biggest numerical threat, while single entries from BMW, Lamborghini and Corvette add further variety.

But it is likely to be the Renault RS01’s series debut that raises most eyebrows. Originally designed for its own single-make championship, the car has since raced against GT3 machinery in other multi-class categories. Spa, however, represents the first time in SRO history that the RS01 will be eligible for outright honours thanks to Blancpain GT Sports Club’s GT3, GTE and single-make performance balancing.

Davide Roda, who will drive Oregon Team’s Renault at Spa, believes the car should compare favourably against its pure GT rivals.

“I have been racing in the Renault Sport Trophy this season and think the RS01 in its GT3 configuration could be a very good car for Spa,” he said. “Its mechanical qualities will become apparent through the circuit’s more technical sections where the driver makes time. However, I will likely lose some of that in the speed traps.

“Hopefully I will be able to learn the track fairly quickly because it will only be my second appearance at Spa in six years. I will work to improve my performance session by session. I am aiming for top-10 finishes in both races.”

Elsewhere, the championship’s maiden visit to one of the world’s most revered circuits comes after as many different drivers won the opening three Main Races at Misano, Brands Hatch and Paul Ricard.

Kessel Racing ace Michal Broniszewski’s double victory in Britain and subsequent podium in southern France have helped him establish a 10-point lead at the top of the standings over Mario Cordoni, whose title hopes were rocked by a double DNF at Paul Ricard last time out. But with his Polish rival’s Total 24 Hours of Spa commitments potentially impacting on his Blancpain GT Sports Club programme, the Italian AF Corse driver has an ideal opportunity to overturn the deficit next weekend.

With double Paul Ricard race winner Daniele Perfetti skipping Spa, Cordoni and Broniszewski’s main opposition is likely to come from Iron Cup leader and defending champion Martin Lanting, whose AF Corse Ferrari 458 GTE moved back to the top of the standings after recording Qualifying and Main Race class victories last time out in France.

However, the Monegasque remains just two points clear of fellow Ferrari driver Stephen Earle whose consistency aboard the Kessel Racing-run 458 GT3 has helped him remain in title contention despite winning only once this season. Nevertheless, much like Broniszewski, the American’s attention could be elsewhere as a result of entering the Blancpain GT Series’ blue riband event over the same weekend.

Both Qualifying and Main Races will be shown live on the Blancpain GT Sports Club website next Friday and Saturday.

Daniele Perfetti secured his, AKKA ASP and Mercedes-AMG’s maiden Blancpain GT Sports Club victories at Circuit Paul Ricard this morning thanks to a measured drive and late pass for the lead. Meanwhile, AF Corse’s reigning Iron Cup champion Martin Lanting claimed a first class victory of the season with fourth overall.

Perfetti, who only confirmed his participation on Friday in addition to his Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup exploits, kept his nose clean during the frenetic opening laps that featured drive-through penalties and a Full Course Yellow period before passing Daniel Vogt’s older Mercedes SLS AMG GT3.

While the latter was faster on the straights the newer car proved better through the corners, and it was at Signes with five minutes remaining that Perfetti made his pass thanks to a classic switch-back manoeuvre.

The Swiss eventually took the chequered flag 6.3s clear of the HP Racing Mercedes, which had inherited the lead when early pace-setters Egidio Perfetti, Michal Broniszewski and Maurice Ricci were all handed drive-through penalties for excessively cutting the Mistral Straight’s chicane on lap one.

A subsequent Full Course Yellow period to retrieve Mario Cordoni’s stranded AF Corse Ferrari, which also removed Patrick Van Glabeke’s 488 GT3 from second place, resulted in Coach McKansy’s Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 moving up to third. The German hassled Vogt over the closing laps but ultimately had to settle for the final step on the podium.

Lanting avoided the travails of others to climb from ninth on the grid to finish fourth, securing the Iron Cup spoils in the process, ahead of Alexis de Bernardi who drove a similarly smart race aboard his Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 GT3. Nicolas Vandierendonck’s Salleslagh Racing Team Corvette C6 ZR1 GTE completed the top-six, one place clear of the recovering Egidio Perfetti who carved his way through from 13th after serving his drive-through.

Broniszewski made similarly light work of the opposition en route to eighth ahead of Jean-Michel Baert and Marc Sourd, who was second in the Iron Cup classification.

Stephen Earle completed the over-60s podium, while Ricci – who served his drive-through a lap earlier than both of his fellow offenders, could manage no better than 16th.

This afternoon’s 40-minute Main Race, which features the intriguing prospect of Egidio Perfetti and Broniszewski starting out of position but within range of the front, gets underway at 14:05.

Watch it live on www.blancpainsportsclub.com/gt/live.

Daniele Perfetti, #87 AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG GT3: “We were losing a lot of speed on the straights but fortunately there are plenty of twisty bits around Paul Ricard were I was able to make up time on Daniel [Vogt]. I saw him struggle through Signes a couple of times so I tried really hard to be in position to capitalise. Then I faked a move on the outside, forcing him deep while he defended on the inside. He ran wide and I was through. I’m expecting Egidio [Perfetti] to be very fast in race two but we will keep it clean. Hopefully I can build a big enough gap early on. Otherwise I’m easy bait!”

Martin Lanting, #48 AF Corse Ferrari 458 GTE: “Because of the big field I was more concerned with my place in the Iron Cup classification than the overall result. But apparently a few things happened in front of me, which was an extra bonus! Ok, I’m starting at the front for race two but, again, I’m only interested in the Iron Cup.”

The former F1 venue in southern France attracted a then-record entry last season and has once again pulled in a formidable line-up comprising seven different manufacturers and 12 models of balanced GTE and GT3 cars.

Circuit Paul Ricard’s 2015 benchmark was eclipsed at the start of this year by the 27 machines that competed at Misano. Two more this weekend, which comprise a new team, drivers and cars, emphasises the growing popularity of a series reserved for purely amateur drivers.

Standing in the way of 28 of them is double Brands Hatch race winner Michal Broniszewski who once again combines his Blancpain GT Series commitments with those of the Blancpain GT Sports Club this weekend. His Kessel Racing-run 458 Italia GT3 is one of 13 Ferraris taking part, the most of any manufacturer.

“Of course we are hoping to do the same as last time and record maximum points.” said the Pole. “However, the 458 I am racing this weekend is different to the one I used at Brands Hatch and you never know what differences there might be or the affects they will have on performance.

“Brands Hatch’s results have given me a lot of motivation to complete the season after missing Misano. We are not far off leading the championship, which could be possible after this weekend. With the Endurance Cup and Blancpain GT Sports Club races taking place on different days it is not difficult to compete in both. Perhaps a few years ago it would have been but modern GT3 cars are less physically demanding to drive, so getting up for Sunday’s qualifying session after racing into the night on Saturday will be fine.”

AF Corse remains the busiest team with no less than five of Maranello’s finest entered, one of which features Overall championship leader Mario Cordoni who will be eager to bounce back from a troubled weekend at Brands Hatch last month. The Italian certainly needs to be at his very best if he is to defend the five-point advantage he currently enjoys over Broniszewski.

Porsche won both Circuit Paul Ricard races last season and the marque returns to Blancpain GT Sports Club this weekend with father and son Mentos Racing duo Augusto and Egidio Perfetti. The latter, driving a new-generation 911 GT3 R, should provide stern opposition to Cordoni and Broniszewski.

Iron Cup points leader Stephen Earle scored his maiden class victory last time out at Brands Hatch and will likely need another this weekend if he is to keep reigning class champion Martin Lanting, who finished third and fourth overall at Circuit Paul Ricard last season, at bay. The Kessel Racing and AF Corse Ferrari drivers are currently separated by 12 points, with a total of 33 on offer during Sunday’s Qualifying and Main Races.

Elsewhere, Audi is once again well represented with no less than six R8 LMS ultras – three of which are run by Sainteloc Racing – scheduled to compete, while four Mercedes – comprising two SLS GT3s and the same number of new-generation AMG GT3s – are sure to provide a thunderous V8 soundtrack.

The increased entry sees a number of other fresh and familiar faces heading to France this weekend. Home favourite Pierre Hirschi is back with his BMW Z4 GT3 after missing Brands Hatch, while X Bionic Racing Team’s Cedric Leimer gives the Lamborghini Huracan GT3 its first Blancpain GT Sports Club outing. There is also a second Ferrari 488 GT3 on the grid courtesy of new Iron Cup racer Klaus Dieter Frers and the Artega Rennsport squad.

All of this weekend’s sessions will be streamed live on the Blancpain GT Sports Club website while Motors TV also has live coverage of both races on Sunday.

And don’t forget the Blancpain Ultracar Sports Club will also be at Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend, featuring the likes of McLaren’s P1 GTR, the Porsche 911 GT1 and Pagani Zonda R.

It was business as usual for Broniszewski who, after again retaining his lead from pole, quickly scampered into the distance en route to a 22-second victory over Karim Ojjeh, who at least denied the Kessel Racing driver fastest lap of the race.

Broniszewski’s dominance ensured all eyes were once again on the fight for the remaining podium places. Vandierendonck picked up a position at the start and initially also looked like passing AF Corse’s Patrick Van Glabeke for second. However, it was not long before Ojjeh had recovered his composure after losing a spot at the start and reeled in the Corvette. And when the C6 ZR1 GTE ran wide at Paddock Hill Bend the BMW M6 GT3 was in prime position to take advantage.

For a while the three cars circulated together before Van Glabeke and Ojjeh edged clear together. But despite being never more than a second apart the latter was unable to mount a meaningful challenge for second.

With 14 minutes remaining a Full Course Yellow period gave Ojjeh the chance he had been waiting for. The Boutsen Ginion Racing driver reacted quicker than Van Glabeke when green flags signalled the end of an admittedly brief caution, gifting him a second place he would retain until the chequered flag.

An equally entertaining battle for fourth place developed further back when Vandierendonck fell into the clutches of championship leader Cordoni, who had charged through from 16th on the grid, and Alexis De Bernardi. The trio ran as one for a time before Vandierendonck was handed a drive-through penalty for overtaking under yellow flags.

De Bernardi, who had already been overtaken by Cordoni, then repaid the favour with a classy move down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend to seal fourth.

Coach McKansy’s Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 completed the top-six, one place clear of first-time Iron Cup winner Stephen Earle. The American’s path to victory was aided by Jan Brunstedt’s early race issues and Martin Lanting starting 19th after spinning into Qualifying Race retirement. The reigning class champion undoubtedly had the pace to win but ran wide into the Clearways gravel on his first attempt at passing Earle.

He recovered from also swiping the barrier to finish second in the Iron Cup and eighth overall, one place ahead of Vandierendonck who was demoted to ninth in the final classification after failing to serve his drive-through penalty.

Gilles Lallement completed the top-10, while Leon Price secured the final Iron Cup podium place with 11th.

Michal Broniszewski, Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 GT3: “I thought the guys were a lot closer in the Main Race, perhaps because my car was a little stiff for the conditions. I was pretty safe in the end, though. I have had fun racing in the Blancpain GT Sports Club this weekend, and maybe more than the Sprint Cup which is like a jungle! The 458 seemed better suited to the circuit than the 488, so I had a good time.”

Stephen Earle, Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 GT3: “I have scored six Iron Cup podiums in six races but this is my first win, which feels a bit different! I knew that Martin would be quick and close in at some point; my engineer was counting down the seconds. So at Clearways I saw him coming and held my normal line while he tried to go around the outside, which was pretty brave! The Iron Cup is very competitive so it is great to come out on top this weekend.”

Round three of this season’s Blancpain GT Sports Club takes place at Paul Ricard in France on June 25/26.

SRO’s sportscar championship reserved for amateur drivers brings together and balances the performance of GTE, GT3 and single-make ‘Trophy’ cars, generating one of the most varied grids in GT racing.

And that will most definitely be the case at Brands Hatch this weekend when six manufacturers and nine different models battle it out around Britain’s fast and furious nine-turn, 3.916km-long former Grand Prix circuit.

No less than nine Ferraris (seven 458 GT3s and two 458 GTEs) will take the start of Sunday’s 25-minute Qualifying and 40-minute Main races. AF Corse and Kessel Racing each enter four Prancing Horses, while AKKA ASP brings a single GTE variant.

Audi also has six entries courtesy of its ever popular R8 LMS ultra GT3, half of which are prepared by Sainteloc Junior Team. Two Mercedes, one of which is the new AMG GT3 model, will provide a thunderous soundtrack, while Lamborghini, BMW and Corvette are also represented.

With the championship entering only its second season and no previous Brands Hatch results to consult the smart money should once again be on Cordoni whose chief Misano sparring partner, Nicolas Misslin, isn’t racing this weekend. The Italian enjoys a two-point championship lead thanks, in part, to his Main Race victory on home soil at the start of the season.

But Cordoni’s AF Corse-run Ferrari is not the only major player in town. Former ELMS GTE Am champion Anthony Pons finished third in Misano’s Qualifying Race while Nicolas Vandierendonck will be eager to improve on his fifth place aboard the distinctive Corvette C6 ZR1 GTE.

Michal Broniszewski has swept all before him in the Blancpain GT Series’ Pro-Am Cup class this season, so don’t be surprised to see his Kessel Racing Ferrari amongst the front-runners here, while Patrick Van Glabeke will be hoping that a switch to the 458 GT3 allows him to deliver his full potential following a problematic first outing with the new 488 in Misano.

Also look out for series newcomer Karim Ojjeh; the former Le Mans 24 Hours class winner brings a new-generation BMW M6, run by Boutsen Ginion Racing, to Kent.

With Misano’s double overall podium finisher and Iron Cup points leader Pierguiseppe Perazzini opting to skip Brands, the way has been left clear for other drivers over the age of 60 to make their mark. Chief among them will be reigning class champion Martin Lanting who finished second behind the Italian in Misano’s Main Race. Double podium finisher Stephen Earle should also be at the sharp end along with 2015 Iron Cup runner-up Louis Philippe Soenen.

Blancpain GT Sports Club’s track action at Brands Hatch begins at 11.50 local time on Saturday 7 May.

It was clear once the race went green again that pole-man Misslin would not have things all his own way as he and Cordoni broke clear of the field together. By lap eight the Italian was ideally placed to pass and slid his AF Corse Ferrari down the inside to complete what would prove the decisive move of the race.

A second Safety Car period was required one lap later to retrieve Pons’ AKKA ASP Ferrari, which had spun and beached itself in the gravel. Racing resumed two laps later and although Misslin initially looked to challenge for the lead Cordoni was steadily able to build an advantage. 3.8s covered them at the chequered flag.

Perazzini, meanwhile, enjoyed a relatively low-key run to third overall and second Iron Cup victory of the weekend. The Italian’s GTE-spec Ferrari 458 Italia was overtaken by Maurice Ricci’s charging Mercedes-AMG GT3 on lap four but inherited the position when the AKKA ASP driver was called in to serve his drive-through penalty for jumping the start.

Martin Lanting emerged from a hard-fought scrap to take fourth position overall and second in the Iron Cup standings. His AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE had run in the lower reaches of the top-10 initially but carved its way through by first passing Pierre Hirschi’s CMR-run BMW Z4 GT3 and then Nicolas Vandierendonck’s Corvette C6 ZR1 GTE over the second half of the race.

Vandierendonck will nevertheless be happy with his drive after making up five places from where he started, while Hirschi equalled his Qualifying Race result from Saturday.

Jean-Michel Baert’s Audi was also in the thick of the action en route to seventh ahead of Stephen Earle, who scored his second Iron Cup podium of the weekend. Ricci recovered from his penalty to finish right behind the Kessel Racing Ferrari and ahead of Jan Burnstedt’s R8 LMS ultra, which completed the top-10.

Elsewhere, Patrick Van Glabeke made up eight places aboard his AF Corse Ferrari to finish 11th overall, while Christian Hook also bounced back from a drive-through penalty while running seventh to finish 15th.

Mario Cordoni (#49 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GT3), 1st Overall: “We struggled a bit in the wet yesterday but today the car was perfect; absolutely fantastic! So I immediately felt very comfortable, especially as the track conditions were also good. Nicolas is a very good driver so I had to wait for my moment without making a mistake. I was quite sure I had the pace to pass but not fast enough to make it easy. There was a little risk involved but it was ok! The second Safety Car came out soon after so we were together for a little while but I was eventually able to pull a small gap.”

Pierguiseppe Perazzini (#50 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE), 1st Iron Cup, 3rd Overall: “The car was very fast in the wet yesterday, which allowed me to compete for the overall victory. It was a different story in the dry today because the GT3 cars can brake a little harder and later than the GTEs. But it was a pretty comfortable race overall and I can be satisfied that there was nothing more I could have done. Besides, two Iron Cup wins and second and third overall is a great weekend!”

Round two of this season’s Blancpain GT Sports Club takes place at Brands Hatch on May 7/8 as an official Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup support category.

Heavy early afternoon rain saw the 25-minute race start behind the Safety Car before, after three laps of acclimatisation, the record grid went racing for real.

Misslin, who started from pole after also topping both free practice sessions, made a perfect getaway to comfortably lead fellow front-row starter Mario Cordoni into Turn 1.

Perazzini was already on the move behind, though, and took third from Pierre Hirschi around the outside of the first chicane before setting off in pursuit of Cordoni. It was not long before he had caught his compatriot and slid down the inside of the Ferrari.

Misslin had broken clear by that point but was reeled in by his Italian pursuer at the rate of a second per lap. At one point the pair were nose-to-tail before the Frenchman re-established his advantage. Ultimately just 1.2s covered them at the finish.

Another driver relishing the tricky conditions was Anthony Pons who pulled off a number of passing moves to complete the overall podium. Hirschi, Team WRT’s Jean-Michel Baert and finally Cordoni were all dispatched, although there was no time to catch the front two.

AF Corse driver Cordoni, who won both races held at Misano last season, came home fourth ahead of Baert and Hirschi, who slipped from third at the start to finish sixth aboard his CMR-run BMW Z4 GT3. Maurice Ricci made up two places to bring his AKKA ASP Mercedes-AMG GT3 home seventh.

Reigning Iron Cup champion Martin Lanting looked set for second in class and a solid top-10 overall result before he and pursuer Christian Hook made contact with just five minutes remaining. The resulting spin confined Lanting to 16th overall and fourth in class while Hook went on to finish eighth.

HP Racing’s Coach McKansy (Lamborghini Gallardo GT3) and Selleslagh Racing Team’s Nicolas Vandierendonck (Corvette C6 ZR1 GTE) completed the top-10.

The Iron Cup podium was completed by Kessel Racing’s Stephen Earle (12th overall) and Jan Brunstedt’s JB Motorsport-run Audi R8 LMS ultra (14th overall).

Drivers line up in the positions they finished today when the Blancpain GT Sports Club’s Main Race gets underway at 11:15 tomorrow morning.

Nicolas Misslin (#22 CMR Ferrari 458 Italia GT3), 1st Overall: “I had never driven at Misano before but have now experienced every sort of condition! I made a good start and was able to control the pace thereafter. Pier Guiseppe was close behind at one point but I didn’t feel like it was necessary to push too hard in such tricky conditions. It would have been very easy to make a mistake so I only went for it when I had to. I feel ready for whatever the weather throws at me tomorrow.”

Pier Guiseppe Perazzini (#50 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia GTE), 1st Iron Cup, 2nd Overall: “I was feeling a lot of tension at the start because we didn’t know the exact state of the circuit or how the wet tyres would perform. I hadn’t raced at Misano for five years but I felt like I got better as the race progressed. Obviously there was a moment when I caught the leader but it was difficult to overtake and, in the end, I would prefer to finish second and be in a good position for the start of tomorrow’s Main Race. Hopefully it is dry; we have more experience in those conditions. But, if it is like this again, I suppose it is not so bad after today’s result!”