Blancpain: Marc VDS returns to its habits

Untouchable at the end of last season in Blancpain Endurance Series, the Marc VDS Racing Team starts again on similar bases in 2012, and always thanks to its formidable trio associating the Belgians Bas Leinders and Maxime Martin with the Finnish Markus Palttala. At the end of an event in which the first 40 minutes took place under safety car conditions as the weather conditions were poor, the No. 4 BMW Z3 crossed the finish line 43 seconds ahead of the Audi R8 LMS ultra from the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT led by Sandstroem-Vanthoor-Bonanomi. “This result is fantastic, and a little unexpected, admits Bas Leinders. The BMW has never been the fastest car at Monza. But the rain fell like a gift from heaven, and the team did an impeccable job of putting that gift to good use. Preparation, strategy, and work in the pits, everything was perfect, without the slightest error, and the pit stops were incredible. All the guys in No. 4 also did a great job to get a great result (seventh. Editor’s note), after a difficult qualifying session. I would like to thank Marc van der Straten and all the members of his team. It’s a great reward for them after a difficult winter.”

The podium of this first round is completed by the Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 alignée par le KRK Racing et confiée à Koen Wauters, Karl Wendlinger et Anthony Kumpen. Au pied du podium, on retrouve la Ferrari Kessel Racing de Gattuso-Rigon-Zampieri, qui s’était élancée depuis la pole position. Longtemps en tête, la Porsche 997 GT3 R n°75 de Prospeed Compétition ne termine finalement qu’à la cinquième place, après que Marc Hennerici se soit montré étrangement lent lors de son relais, après que ses équipiers Marc Goosens et Xavier Maassen se soient montrés impeccables. Elle devance la lauréate de la catégorie Pro-Am Cup, la Ferrari 458 Italia n°57 Vita4One Italy de Eugenio Amos-Giacomo Petrobelli-Alessandro Bonacini. En Gentlemen Trophy, victoire de la Ferrari 430 Team Kessel Racing by Paladino-Andreasi-Caccia.

Next round of the Blancpain Endurance Series, June 3 at Silverstone, Great Britain.

Find it in your AUTOhebdo magazine, on newsstands from Wednesday or available here from Tuesday 14 p.m. in digital version for iPad, analysis of the opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series by our special correspondent in Monza.