FFSA GT – L’Espace Bienvenue wins Race 2 in Albi

On the next day of Enzo Joulié's victory on the green carpet at the end of Race 1 of FFSA GT particularly lively in Albi, it was the Espace Bienvenue duo Ricardo van der Ende – Benjamin Lessennes (BMW M4 GT4 #17) who won the second race of the Tarn meeting this Sunday. Compared to the first race this Saturday, the platoon of FFSAGT was rather wise and cautious this Sunday. No safety car intervened. Race 2 of the Albi meeting can be relived here.

THE CLASSIFICATION OF RACE 2

Starting from pole position, the Dutchman Ricardo van der Ende quickly set a strong pace to distance himself from the two Mercedes-AMG GT4 from AKKODIS ASP from Enzo Joulié (#87) and Paul Evrard (#88). At the foot of the provisional podium, we found Rudy Servol (Alpine A110 #36 – CMR) in 1st place in the Pro-Am. The leader of the FFSA GT Silver classification Erwan Bastard (Audi R8 LMS #14 – Sainteloc) completed the top 5. At the heart of the peloton, the battles continued to rage, like this muscular pass between Fabien Barthez (Mercedes-AMG GT4 #16 – AKKODIS-ASP) and Romano Ricci (Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 #13 – Mirage Racing), in which the former goalkeeper of the French team was forced to explore the gravel.

Starting from 8th place and fighting for the places of honor, the Mercedes #31 of Paul Petit (CD Sport) suffered a major mechanical problem (gear stuck in 1st gear) from the 20th minute of the race, forcing it to the abandonment. In the lead, Ricardo van der Ende was leading at full speed, with a lead of around 3″ until the mandatory stopping window opened in FFSA GT (between the 25th and 35th minute of the race). In this one, the Dutch leader made his stop at the last moment, leaving control of the M4, and the race, to Benjamin Lessennes. The Belgian was then leader ahead of the AKKODIS-ASP Mercedes.

They will also sabotage their race 20 minutes from the end of the race. The #87 Mercedes of Hugo Chevalier went too wide at the Aerodrome double bend and slammed violently into the #88 of Thomas Drouet. Relegated to the bottom of the ranking following a puncture, the #87 lost all hope of winning, and therefore of signing a double following its victory on the green carpet the day before. This collision benefited Benjamin Lessennes, who now had around ten seconds ahead of Nicolas Cheers on'Alpine A110 #36 from CMR. Ultra-dominant in Pro-Am this season, CMR will finally experience a mechanical problem in the final loop, from which Eric Trémoulet (Mercedes-AMG GT #64 – Team Jouffruit by VicTeam) benefited to take victory in the category. Without trembling, Espace Bienvenue signed its first victory of the season and returned to the match in the Silver Category.

Arrival 19th, theAlpine A110 #76 from Bodemer Auto, with Laurent Coubard and Jean-Charles Redélé won the Am category. The next FFSA GT meeting will take place at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit (July 22-24)