Unexpected victory for Guilvert-Michal in Race 2 at Spa

The crossover of summer 2019 affected the French Championship FFSAGT. Saturday July 27, near Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), the two main protagonists for the Titles and Teams crowns experienced radically opposite emotions.

Started from a very poor 38th and penultimate place due to mechanical problems in qualifying, Grégory Guilvert and Fabien Michal (Audi) expected to lose many points on Pierre-Alexandre Jean and Stéphane Lémeret (Alpine), in pole position.

The latter began the morning event with a 23-unit lead in the general classification; however, an hour later, the Team Saintéloc crew regained the upper hand thanks to the abandonment of theAlpine A110 of the CMR… at the start of the last lap! 

This cruel disillusionment should not erase the performance signed by the drivers of the Audi R8 LMS GT4. When it was time to change drivers, the German car had already made its way to the bottom of the top 10. “It’s unexpected to find yourself in the lead, conceded Grégory Guilvert from his stand. I had a very good stint, everyone was good, I was able to easily get back into the peloton. »

On a particularly fresh and partially wet track, Fabien Michal emerged in the leading group, but had difficulty containing the return of Stéphane Lémeret.

There was ultimately no attack due to a Full Course Yellow (FCY) procedure to clear theAlpine of Rudy Servol (CMR) crashed shortly before Stavelot 10 minutes from time. Then, theAlpine tricolor gave up the ghost two minutes from the checkered flag. This is the third retirement for the Jean-Lémeret pair in just four meetings in 2019. 

Second place goes to Christopher Campbell and Ricardo Van der Ende (BMW), followed by only Matthew George aboard the new Aston Martin Vantage. The Briton, not entered for the year in FFSA GT, is transparent for the championship; also, Jean-Luc Beaubelique and Jim Pla (Mercedes), the title holders, reach their first podium in 2019.

Enfin, la catégorie Am est remportée par Julien Lambert et Nicolas Gomar (Porsche). Au rayon des déceptions, figurent la Mercedes des jeunes Édouard Cauhaupé et Arthur Rougier, en permanence sur le podium virtuel mais victime de deux crevaisons (35e), ainsi que l’Alpine by Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche (36th).

Find the analysis of the FFSA GT at Spa-Francorchamps by our special correspondents in AUTO issue 2227hebdo, on sale Monday evening in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands.

FFSA GT Spa-Francorchamsp 2019 Race 2 results:

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