iRacing.com GT500 offered an exiting race with almost all titles in BlancPain Endurance Series at stake.
The BES finale did not turn out to be the finale Insight Racing Denmark had hoped for. A ninth position in the Pro Am Cup could be converted into a top six if the race went according to plan. But far from it, which was a fitting description for the entire weekend.
Several interruptions during the practise sessions and only a few laps on slicks due to showers meant that Martin Jensen weren’t able to fully exploit the potential of the Ferrari 458 Italia, and the starting position was in the last third of the grid.
Good pace in race setup did not convert into as good a position. Technical issues with the car and during a pitstop hampered the race up through the field for the Danish team, ending two laps down at the chequered flag and seeing the top ten position in the cup go.
The top in iRacing.com GT500 at the Nürburgring:
1 Shane van Gisbergen, Rob Bell, Kevin Estre, Von Ryan Racing, McLaren 650 S GT3
2 Guy Smith, Andy Meyrick, Steven Kane, Bentley M-Sport, Bentley Continental GT3, +14.183
3 Katsumasa Chiyo, Wolfgang Reip, Alex Buncombe, Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, Nissan GT-R Nismo GT3, +19.161
4 Jean-Karl Vernay, Robin Frijns, Laurens Vanthoor, Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Audi R8 LMS, +19.650
5 Andy Soucek, Maxime Soulet, Maximilian Buhk, Bentley Continental GT3, +33.393
41 Dennis Andersen, Martin Jensen, Insight Racing Denmark, Ferrari 458 Italia, +2 laps
The top in BlancPain Pro Am Cup 2015
1 AF Corse, 116 point
2 Kessel Racing, 63
3 GT Russian Team, 62
4 Leonard Motorsport AMR, 61
5 Emil Frey Racing, 51
6 Rinaldi Racing, 35
7 Black Falcon,32
8 Ecurie Ecosse, 32
9 Nissan GT Academy Team RJN, 29
10 Team Russia by Barwell, 26
11 Insight Racing Denmark, 24
Martin Jensen, team manager and driver:
“Again a race without luck on our side. We had different interruptions in the practise sessions, and we were improving too during the qualifying, but didn’t really get to show the potential of the car.
The race started out fine, but we were hampered by minor technical issues, among others one where Dennis had to stop out on track. The speed of the car didn’t mean much as we were put way back by our issues.
Never the less it was good to know we had the pace, and the team worked hard to solve the various problems with a more or less new car. It was too bad we weren’t able to finish on a high. Now we are looking ahead to an exiciting 2016 season.”
Dennis Andersen, kører:
“I had an okay start to the race, made up quite a lot of positions and I was on my way to another cluster of cars when the engine suddenly started to cut out. Some time and a lot of lost positions later I figured out that the main switch had been cut off. I got going again and started moving back up the field again.
Our first pit stop went wrong as we experienced an issue with the airpressure, loosing about a minute. Martin is as always very strong, but we are still way down the field. During our second pit stop our radio malfunctions, so neither the team or I are quite ready, when Martin suddenly arrives. By reasons unknown to me I get sent away on used tyres, so my second stint is more damage limitation than an opportunity to attack, A pity, because the car was quick.”