Blancpain – Marino Franchitti and Ara at Boutsen

After the races at the Nürburgring, in Germany (September 22-23) then at Navarra, in Spain (October 13-14), the curtain will fall on the 2012 edition of the Blancpain Endurance Series. The championship made by SRO is currently one of the most attractive for any team operating in GT. And also one of the most disputed. During the last two meetings, the protagonists will do everything to show off.

This is the case of Boutsen Ginion Racing, which is fielding two McLaren MP4-12C in the Pro-Am category. And to achieve this, team manager Olivier Laîné has recruited two “heavyweights”, who will support his usual protégés, namely Nico Verdonck, Jérôme Thiry and Edouard Mondron. These are Marino Franchitti and Seiji Ara, two men with little left to prove in Endurance. “Our McLarens finally seem to be reliable, and very fast, underlines Laîné. We still have to make it happen in the next two rounds. We are fortunate to welcome two great drivers to our team.”

The Scotsman, a great leader of the ALMS at Highcroft in recent years and seen last June at Le Mans at the wheel of the DeltaWing, is delighted. “I am delighted to have the opportunity to return to GT, moreover, with the Boutsen Ginion Racing team in the Blancpain championship which is so competitive, admits Dario’s brother. I'm looking forward to working with Nico and Seiji. It?s a real treat to be able to ride with a winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans ! "

Marino will indeed share the wheel of one of the two MP4-12Cs with Nico Verdonck and Seiji Ara. “Having had the opportunity to test the McLaren in June, I was delighted to be contacted to participate in the last two rounds of the championship, continues the latter, Super GT star, winner of the 24 2004 Hours of Le Mans in an Audi R8 and who competed in the last edition of the Le Mans classic in the Dome S102.5 of the Pescarolo Team. I know the Nürburgring circuit, while Navarra will be a new challenge for me. »

The sister car will be entrusted to Jérôme Thiry, Edouard Mondron, and a third driver whose identity will be revealed in the coming days.