3H Endurance GT / Tourism: The race you shouldn't miss!

All the leaders are there for this round which will be the last before the summer break. Special mention for the Spanish Mosler n°13 which was completely rebuilt in just 20 days after the fire at Paul Ricard which almost destroyed the car.

Testing and qualifying took place under cloudy skies, but on this Sunday morning the sun dominated. This 3-hour round will therefore take place in the best conditions and allow the drivers in the different categories to seek new important points. Battle at the top of the general but also in the following categories because nothing has been done at this stage of the championship. Always very fast, Frédéric Ancel brought the 007 to the forefront of the grid. At his side another Porsche, that of Ruffier Racing driven by Patrice and Paul Lafargue. Second line: Ferrari F458 Visiom and Porsche GT3-R Crubilé Sport. The 53 d?IMSA, leading the championship, is 5th.

A successful mass start for the peloton of 22 drivers who passed the first turn without incident. Before entering the basin, it was the Mosler of Eric Van de Vyver which spun, while it was side by side with one of the Mercedes G-Private Racing SLS. In the lead, Ancel confirms his good performance in qualifying, Paul Lafargue on number 17 makes a good start to the race. The two Porsches take a few steps on the Ferrari F458. In GTV 3, Thevenot's Cup is well placed in 7th position. In GTV 2, the No. 13 Mosler from Escuela Espanola De Pilotos leads the way; she is 9th overall at the attack of this 3rd round. The No. 8 Audi R46 has already returned to the pits after a small incident on the track. The problem is completely different because it is the gearbox which is to blame. Too bad also for the 62, at the head of the GTV 3, because it received a Drive Through for not having respected its racing line. Another car stands out in the peloton, it is the SF V8 Yacouba from Charriol / Carugati which is entered in the S1 silhouette category.
Thierry Perrier, who started in the No. 2 Ferrari, is now putting together some very good times. He gets back on the 17 of Paul Lafargue and overtakes it after 1/4 hour of racing. Ancel makes his effort in the lead and he sets the fastest lap in the race, a great duel is taking shape. The Audi R8 LMS AB Sport Auto returned to the track, but only made one lap and returned to retire. The Porsche 53 and 25, leading the GTV 1 championship, are currently 4th and 5th. The No. 62 must once again return to the pits, this time it is a puncture which handicaps the Porsche Cup Conseil (GTV 3). After 20 minutes, the top 5 are quite grouped and we start to catch up with the first stragglers. Eric Van de Vyver returns to the peloton after his little mishap in the first round. At the half-hour mark, the Ferrari F458 came back on the Porsche Lorient Racing GT3-R. Several cars are forced to return to the pit lane to resolve problems with the transponder and indication of the name of the driver on board; an obligation in these GT/Touring events. The No. 93 Dodge Viper goes straight into its box and retires. While the 2 and the 007 are fighting among the laggards, it is time for the first passages in the pits. Almost an hour of racing and 40 laps completed, Thierry Perrier finally passes Frédéric Ancel! The 007 did not force it as it returned to refuel at the end of the same lap, Ancel remained behind the wheel. The Ferrari enters a few laps later and Jean-Paul Pagny takes the wheel. With different tactics everyone has not stopped yet. After an hour, the 17 from Ruffier Racing is ahead of the 25 from Crubilé Sport and the 53 from IMSA, but only the Porsche from Rouen has already refueled in this trio. Among the GTV 2s, it is the Porsche 997 Cup from TFT which leads the debates. The 67 from Alloin / Vaxivière had a magnificent race and dominated in GTV 3.

When everyone has passed through the refueling box, it is No. 007 who regains the lead. After 1h20, the #32 Porsche, which had positioned itself well in GTV 2, had to retire with gearbox problems. During his first stop, Paul Lafargue remained at the wheel, after 1h30 he handed over to his father this time. A new round of stops begins in the pit lane, while we are halfway through the race. After a magnificent first half of the test, the silhouette n°96 of Solution F encounters its first problems; we are trying to put oil back into the Yacouba's engine. The Ruffier Racing Porsche made a mistake and hit the rail: Patrice Lafargue returned to the pits to consolidate the bodywork before leaving; too bad after a great start and a great qualification. In the lead, as we passed the halfway mark, the top 5 went into the pits and made a complete stop: fuel, tires and driver change. The IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche has achieved very good times over the past hour, and with a staggered refueling tactic, the #53 is now well placed in the lead with a comfortable lead over the #25 from Crubilé Sport. The No. 2 Ferrari is not far away, but it will still have to make an additional stop, since it only made 2 pit stops out of the 3 obligatory ones during this 3-hour race. The Mosler n° 13 is 5th overall and first GTV 2, but it is for the moment in the same situation as the Italian from Visiom. In GTV 3, the #67 Porsche Alméras is in a good 7th place overall.

Here is the situation before the last one? hour during which it will especially be necessary to make passages through the pit lane for those who do not have the number of obligatory stops. The Mosler of Kanaroglou/Campos does what is necessary and manages to keep the leadership in GTV 2. The No. 2 Ferrari is not entering for the moment and Jean-Bernard Bouvet demonstrates all his talent. The F458 GT 2 driver's calculation is simple: he must gain the necessary lead over the No. 25 Porsche, driven by Sébastien Crubilé, in order to pass through the pit lane and leave while retaining 2nd place. His times are exceptional and he takes up to 4s per lap from the Porsche! There are 10 minutes left when he passes through the pitlane? A successful bet, the Ferrari emerges 10 seconds ahead of the Crubilé Sport GT3-R! Final loops before the checkered flag, and the IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche GT3-R wins in Dijon, consolidating its lead in the championship. She crossed the line in second position, but the Ferrari F458 GT2 of the Visiom team received a penalty for exceeding the driving time of driver A! She therefore loses the second step on the podium and is ranked 4th. The No. 25 of Perrodo / Crubilé (they are not accompanied by Emmanuel Collard this weekend) is therefore in second position, and it is therefore Porsche Lorient Racing which accompanies them on the last step with the duo Ancel / Blasco who had a very good test at the wheel of the GT3-R n°007. In GTV-1, it’s a 100% Porsche podium!

In GTV 2, beyond the result, it is a splendid reward for the entire Escuela Española de Pilotos team which places its No. 13 Mosler on the top step of the category. She also finished in a very good 5th place overall. Good result also for the No. 11 Mosler of Eric Van de Vyver and Thierry Proust after an eventful start to the race; they are second. Third place for the No. 36 Porsche of the Demorge brothers, Alain and Jean-François who did well in the category in which they were second in the championship.

In GTV 3, we are pleased to find the colors of Porsche Alméras on the top step with the No. 67 from Alloin / Vaxiviere. Second, the 997 Cup of Team Sport 5 (n°33) and third, the 997 Cup of Cup Conseil (n°62); two Porsches that we didn't necessarily expect to be in these places but which had a superb weekend in Dijon.

In the S1 silhouette category, the SF Yacouba ultimately had to abandon with its engine problems. In GTV 4, the Ginetta G50 stood out at the end of the race by breaking down a few meters from the line!

See you at the start of the school year, on August 30, 31 and September 1, for a unique event in the season, the 12H of Motorland Aragon in Spain, an endurance event which will bring together the GT/Touring and sport prototype categories.