The HWM pair of Jurriaan De Back and Paul Meijer took their first win of the season today in Race 2 at the Autódromo do Algarve and leave Portugal as the first points leaders of the GT Cup Europe. “We lived a quieter race than yesterday, but it wasn’t easy. It’s nice to be in the lead, but this is going to be a long a tough season.”, they reckoned.
Today’s race was indeed packed with action, with no less than three safety cars and a number of ‘casualties’, including yesterday’s winners, Luvisi-Delli Guanti.
Cássio de Mello and Giacomo Giubergia (GDL Racing) finished second and won in Am, while Diego Stifner-, Laurini (BiRace Motorsport). In Pro-Am the success was for the HWM pair of Lars Zaenen and Fgani Salubre after a post-race penalty hit AF Motorsport’s young Brazilians Leonardo Reis and Felipe Massa Jr.
THE RACE - After winning yesterday, the FAEMS by Ebimotors Porsche took pole for Race 2. The young Italian kept the advantage at the start but was passed by his first row mate, Svepes, during the opening lap. Schirò was third ahead of Barros and Pedrini, but a collision between Tincescu and Merendino at the back prompted the safety car out.
At the restart, in lap 4, the action was short-lived as Pedrini, trying an optimistic move on Barros at the end of the straight, ran into Schirò, who collected Luvisi. The race ended for the two innocent victims and the safety car was out again.
Second restart in lap 8 saw Svepes lead ahead of Barros, Laurini, Giubergia, Navarrete, Pinheiro, Barambio and De Back, but immediately after, it was driver change time.
After all stops, Martins is in the lead, with a 4-second advantage on Meijer and de Mello (first in Am), then Stifner, Sampaio, Weijs and Reis. In lap 15, Meijer takes the lead from Martins, while Sampaio spins into the gravel. For the third time, the safety car is out to rescue the LMR car.
The last bit of the race remains lively with Mello taking second (and the win in Am) and Stifner third, after both passed Martins. Reis wins in Pro-Am ahead of Zaenen and Pinheiro.
