Bentley Team HTP have scored another podium finish with the Continental GT3. At the third round of the ADAC GT Masters at Spa-Francorchamps/Belgium, Luca Stolz (D) and Jeroen Bleekemolen (NL) finished third and claimed the second podium-finish for Bentley in the series. Bentley Team HTP also showed a strong, but ultimately unrewarded performance at the third round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at Le Castellet/France. Vincent Abril (F), Harold Primat (CH) and Mike Parisy (F) led the race briefly and maintained a strong third place in the first two hours before a technical issue required a lengthy pit stop.
Second podium in ADAC GT Masters
Luca Stolz and Jeroen Bleekemolen showed a strong performance in the first of two ADAC GT Masters races at Spa. After starting fifth, the Bentley drivers kept in contention with the leading cars and finally finished third. Clemens Schmid (A) and Fabian Hamprecht (D) passed the chequered flag in eighth position in a second Bentley, but were classified 14th after a penalty following contact on the final lap.
Sunday’s race in pouring rain in Belgium was much more difficult. Both Bentleys struggled in adverse conditions, and with on incredibly wet track Stolz/Bleekemolen finished 15th, with Schmid/Hamprecht two positions behind after an additional pit stop for a tire change.
Strong presence in the south of France remains unrewarded
Significantly sunnier than in Belgium, the third round of the Blancpain Endurance Series took place in Le Castellet. Bentley Team HTP showed it’s best performance yet in the Endurance Series during the 1000km long race. Abril started from the front row in the six-hour race after a great qualifying and briefly took the lead, before running third in the 60-car strong field during the first two hours. A setback followed in lap 63, when the Bentley had to stop for more then ten minutes to fix a mechanical issue. After the unplanned stop, the three Bentley driver fought back and finally finished 36th.
„We showed a strong performance in both the ADAC GT Masters and the Blancpain Endurance Series, even if we were not rewarded with all the relevant results“, Bentley Team HTP team principal Norbert Brückner says. „In the ADAC GT Masters we scored a podium and set the quickest lap. For the next races, we have to be more consistent and have to score points in every race. In the Blancpain Endurance Series, luck is certainly not on our side so far. But this weekend at least proved that we have the potential to race at front of the Endurance Series. The performance of Vincent Abril, who put us on the front row of a 60-car strong grid at Le Castellet was notable.”
Driver quotes after the race:
Jeroen Bleekemolen: “Our first race at Spa was good. We were at the limit and fought well, it was enough to claim a podium finish. In the wet in the second race it was very difficult. I had no grip and there was so much water on the track. When there was less water on track, our performance was better.“
Luca Stolz: “In the first race we were able to go a really good speed and race with the leaders, although it was difficult to overtake. Sunday we lost the race due to there being so much water on the track. Unfortunately, we were only able to score points in one race each weekend so far, but in the championship standing, it doesn’t look so bad.“
Fabian Hamprecht: “In the first race I had an unfortunate contact on the final lap. I battled for sixth place and tried, but it didn’t work out. In the second race, the rain made it difficult. Then we had problems with grip and could not go full throttle. We’ll analyse what happened and learn from it.“
Clemens Schmid: “In the heavy rain in the second race it was very difficult, but in regular rain conditions at the end of the race we could drive very competitive lap times. In the first race we lost our good positions and points afterwards, but at least I drove the fastest lap of the race.“
Vincent Abril: “We haven’t had much luck in the Endurance Series this season. However, I was very pleased with my own performance. For the first time I drove the third part of the qualifying and it paid off with a front row grid position. I was able to take the lead briefly after the start and run then in third as the best placed Bentley. Unfortunately a problem threw us back. I will now fully concentrate on the race of the Sprint Series in Moscow in two weeks.”