Frikadelli Racing wins, Olsen and Porsche take the title at Kyalami

The scenarios were multiple but despite the threat Mercedes and BMW is Dennis Olsen leaves Kyalami as 2019 Intercontinental GT Challenge champion, at the end of a finale with non-stop action on the track, and neutralized for a long time in its last part with the arrival of the storm and the entry into action of the safety car.

Si Porsche a dominé le début de course avec la Porsche 911 GT3 R n°20 – GPX Racing, BMW, avec la M6 GT3 n°34 – Walkenhorst Motorsport de Christian Krognes – Nick Catsburg – Mikkel Jensen mais aussi la n°42 – Team Schnitzer d’Augusto Farfus – Sheldon van der Linde – Martin Tomczyk, s’est rapidement placée en grande rivale après un gros tiers de course.

Even more so when a collision between the two leading Porsche 911 GT3 Rs partly redistributed the cards, Nick Tandy (Frikadelli Racing) hitting Michael Christensen and giving the lead of the race to the two propeller cars.

Over the stops, a quintet stands out composed of the Porsche 911 GT3 R n°20 – GPX Racing, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°10 – SPS Automotive Performance, the BMW M6 GT3 n°34 -Walkenhorst Motorsport, the BMW M6 GT3 n°42 – Team Schnitzer and the Porsche 911 GT3 R n°31 – Frikadelli Racing.

The storm brings the peloton together

A little over two hours from the finish, the race was however neutralized under safety car regime due to a violent storm. The No. 911 Porsche 3 GT20 R then takes the lead at the start of this period which will extend until just over 25′ from the finish.

It was ultimately the #10 Mercedes which restarted the race from the front, the order having been modified following the various passages through the pit lane, including that of the #42 BMW to reset the relay. 'Augusto Farfus.

However, Yelmer Buurman had to quickly give in to the Porsches n°20 – GPX and n°31 – Frikadelli Racing, entrusted to Richard Lietz and Nick Tandy who took back control of the race. 20′ from the finish, Tandy saw Lietz move aside, the n°31 taking the advantage.

At this moment, this first place, coupled with the 4th of the No. 10 Mercedes, in which Maxi Götz appears, offers the title to Dennis Olsen, teammate of Tandy and Mathieu Jaminet. The hierarchy no longer evolves, and the trio Tandy – Jaminet – Olsen wins in the end, Olsen succeeding to the winners of theIGTC to Tristan Vautier.

The Norwegian was previously partnered with Dirk Werner and Matt Campbell this year in the series, with a season-opening win at Bathurst. But Porsche had chosen to separate its lines to maximize its chances in South Africa, and with good reason.

Catsburg – Krognes – Jensen (BMW n°34 – Walkenhorst) and Lietz – Estre – Christensen (Porsche n°20 – GPX) complete the podium ahead of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 n°29 – Audi Sport Team Land de Haase – Wikelhock – Mies and the Mercedes n°10 – SPS Automotive Performance of Götz – Buurman – Stolz. Porsche also won the Manufacturers' title against Mercedes-AMG.

The race had immediately lost the championship leader before this final Maxi Buhk (Mercedes-AMG GT3 n°999 – GruppeM Racing), forced to stop at the side of the track on the first lap, following an ignition problem .

The Mercedes clan also lost the No. 44 – Strakka Racing, after Tristan Vautier went off the track, an unfortunate passenger in a car whose brakes failed.

In the Silver Cup, victory went to the #911 Porsche 3 GT9 R – Lechner Racing of Dylan Pereira – Lars Kern – Saul Hack, while the #6 BMW M3 GT36 – Walkenhorst Motorsport of Henry Walkenhorst – Michael van Rooyen – Gennaro Bonafede wins in the Am Cup.

Discover the report of the final of the Intercontinental GT Challenge in Kyalami, in AUTO issue 2244hebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version and from this Wednesday on newsstands.