The Marc VDS Racing Team endured a tough day at Silverstone, but salvaged a fifth place for Henri Moser, Nick Catsburg and Markus Palttala in BMW Z4 GT3 #4. The #3 car, with Bas Leinders, Yelmer Buurman and Maxime Martin, retired after contact with a slower car.
Qualifying was a struggle, with heavy traffic hampering both cars. Martin in #3 managed ninth, but once again Q3 was ruined for car #4. Moser’s fast lap was spoiled by a spinning car so it was Catsburg’s Q2 time that set a 22nd place grid position.
Both cars started well, with Moser in #4 making a stack of places in the opening laps. Leinders in #3 expressed caution, picking off a couple of places but not risking any daredevil moves. However, while running in eighth and passing traffic, he was hit by a lapped car and put in the gravel.
Having lost a number of laps the car was recovered and returned to the track with a puncture, but retired shortly after. With damage to the car and no realistic chance of points, the decision was taken not to risk the car.
Throughout his stint, Moser picked up places but was forced to take a drive through after being adjudged to have overtaken under yellow flags. A swift pitstop gave Catsburg the platform to push on and he set a series of rapid laps in the car, taking more places in the process. He was able to hand the car over from sixth place.
Another lightning stop put Palttala into fifth, with 20 seconds to close to fourth place. Though he was able to achieve this, pushing harder as the race came to its conclusion, he was thwarted in his attempts to secure fourth. Having twice been hit by the fourth place Ferrari, he passed on the final lap only to see a Nissan slip past in the final corner.
A best lap just three tenths shy of the fastest of the race was small consolation for the Finn.
Sebastien Metz, Technical director: “The crew for car #4 did an amazing job; without the drive through, the car would have been well in the fight for the podium. Nick did an amazing job with overtaking, Markus drove a superb stint and the laptime at the end was very nice. It’s great to see them show the potential of the car, because it’s been very difficult so far. For car #3 it’s obviously very disappointing. When you look at the pace of #4 at the end, with #3 on a similar set up, we should have been fighting for two podiums.”
Bas Leinders, #3 BMW Z4 GT3: “There was a lapped car in front and it was slow, but it let the others in front of me pass. I followed them past but he hit me on the left rear. That’s it. With a puncture, and being stuck in the gravel, we were then three laps down. With slight damage on the rear left suspension, we decided it was best to stop. It’s not so good for the championship. At least for the team standings, we’ve scored precious points each race. We’ll go balls out now to win every race and try to win the teams’ title.”
Nick Catsburg, #4 BMW Z4 GT3: “I felt like I had a really good stint. The car was so much better than what we had yesterday and I could push like hell on old tyres, which is awesome – the guys did a great job on the set up. I saw I was quick and I was overtaking a lot. I was enjoying it a lot, finally able to set some good times in the car, after a difficult start at Monza. This weekend didn’t start so well either but now we’re P5. Without the drive through, which was unlucky, we could – and should – have been on the podium here.”
Source : Marc VDS Racing Team