Blancpain – Kessel Racing and its Ferrari 458 take on Monza

Sixty GT took part, this Sunday, April 14, in the first race of the year counting for Blancpain Endurance Series (BES) at the Monza circuit, Italy. Despite this impressive number, the start turned out to be miraculously clean, with only two cars ending up with their wheels lightly in the grass. From the second round, two Pro-Ams put themselves ahead of the Pro-Cups. A duel has emerged between the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 of the #77 MRS GT Racing driven by Philippe Eng and the #035 Nissan GT-R of the Nissan GT-Academy RJN entrusted to the hands of Alex Buncombe.

The two drivers widened the gap for 25 minutes, before the Briton took the advantage. For an hour, the Nissan will maintain the lead. His efforts came to naught when two track exits required the deployment of the safety car. It is then that the Pro category cars will return to the forefront. There Ferrari 458 Italia No. 44 of Kessel Racing driven by the Zampieri-Ramos-Rigon crew will then take the lead of the race. Untouchable from that moment on, the Swiss team would fly to the first victory of the season. Author of several remarkable overtakes, the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 of the ART Grand Prix moved into second position. Entrusted to the French Antoine Leclerc and Mike Parisy as well as the Spaniard Andy Soucek, the No. 11 car managed to maintain its rank without being worried but without ever being able to get back on the Ferrari.

The battle for third place was extremely intense and came down to the wire between Gulf Racing and the No. 8 Audi R13 LMS ultra of the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT. It was ultimately the No. 69 McLaren of the first, driven by Adam Caroll (who teams up with Rob Bell and Nico Verdonck) which was able to retain its place on the podium. Still in the Pro-Cup, a big disappointment for Hexis Racing, who were the favorites. The McLaren MP4-12C which flies the French flag and driven by Dusseldorp-Sims-Parente only finishes 13th after one lap. It was even worse for Saintéloc Racing and its No. 8 Audi R40 LMS Ultra: after contact at the very start of the race, the car lost its hood in the Parabolica in a straight line and was the first to retire.

The Ferrari 458 Italia were definitely in the spotlight at home in Monza. Fifth overall, the No. 50 Af Corse driven by Niek Hommerson and Louis Machiel, the reigning champions, as well as their teammate Andrea Bertolini, is starting the season in the best possible way. Apart from the car, again a Ferrari 458 Italia, the success is 100% French among the Gentlemen Drivers. Sofrev ASP won with its tricolor trio composed of Jean-Luc Beaubelique, Jean-Luc Blanchemain and Patrice Goueslard aboard car no. 20.