Vincent Abril: “More performance potential than in 2017”

In 2017, Maxime Soulet's frantic sprint was not enough at the end of the race to allow Bentley to put its name on the Spa 24 Hours list. The Belgian had to settle for second place with his teammates Vincent Abril and Andy Soucek, just behind the Audi R8 LMS GT3 – Saintéloc Racing of Jules Gounon – Markus Winkelhock – Christopher Haase.

Cette année, le clan Bentley Team M-Sport confrontera pour la première fois sa toute nouvelle Bentley Continental GT3 à une course de 24 Heures dans les Ardennes. Un passage obligé qui laisse forcément en suspens quelques questions dans le clan britannique, mais pour Vincent Abril, la dernière-née de l’esprit de Christian Loriaux, directeur technique de la structure de Dovenby Hall, possède de sérieux atouts.

© SRO Motorsports / D. Bogaerts

“We performed well in the other races, reminded us of the Gardois in the Spaois paddock this Wednesday. But it remains complicated to prove everything in just three races (Monza, Silverstone and Paul Ricard). 

It's a year of development, and it's the first 24-hour race. Do we have more chances than in 2017? It's hard to say. We have more performance potential than last year »

Focus on continuity

The former 2015 Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup champion, already with a Bentley Continental, but then operated by HTP Motorsport, can also count on stability which could be important in the Ardennes.

For the first time in fact, Vincent Abril will play with the same teammates and the same team over two consecutive seasons. “We are building on this experience, analyzes the former resident of FFSAGT with Speed ​​Car.

This will be my fourth time at Spa, and we learn every year. I feel less pressure about how the week goes. The first year, I was super excited about Super Pole. Today, I no longer worry about the different settings. It's a very long race.

Overall, there is less personal pressure. But there is something for Bentley at what is the biggest race of the year. »

Faced with the Audi armadas or Mercedes, the two new Continental GT3s could however find themselves somewhat lonely, after having been able to count on the reinforcement of Team Abt in 2017. Team Parker Racing will certainly field a car, but of an older generation. “It is certain that it is better to go into battle with more forces. » admits Abril. 

The Crewe brand must also begin to attract potential customers for its Continental, in particular in order to respect the new quotas put in place by the FIA. Petri Corse in Italy has already expressed its desire to acquire two new chassis for 2019. A victory, long awaited by M-Sport and Bentley, would thus be the best possible promotion.