Blancpain Endurance Cup Silverstone

The #63 Grasser Racing Team trio of Andrea Caldarelli, Mirko Bortolotti and Christian Engelhart emerged victorious from a thrilling three hour Blancpain Endurance Cup race at Silverstone last Sunday.

The Lamborghini drivers saw off a concerted challenge from the #84 HTP Motorsport Mercedes AMG GT3 in the final hour to take the win by just 0.344 seconds. AKKA ASP completed the podium with their Mercedes GT3

The race started on a chaotic note, as an extra formation lap was needed after an issue at the first time of asking. When the red lights were finally extinguished, Bortolotti charged into the lead around the outside of Copse Corner, taking the place from Felix Serralles in the pole sitting AKKA ASP Mercedes. Things went south quickly for Serralles as he was judged to have jumped the start and handed a 60 second stop-and-go penalty, dropping the car out of contention for the rest of the race.

Bortolotti quickly built a comfortable cushion at the head of the 55 car field, but his advantage was wiped out early in the race after a sizeable shunt for Jonny Kane in the #44 Strakka Racing McLaren after contact with another car through the fast Maggots and Becketts section. Repairs to the barriers required an extended safety car period, which the AKKA ASP team used to pit their #90 Mercedes early and leapfrog to the head of the field after the pitstop cycle had completed.

Andrea Caldarelli was now at the wheel of the bright green #63 Lamborghini, and set about applying immense pressure to Michael Meadows in the leading Mercedes. Despite the Italian’s best efforts, Meadows was able to hang on to the lead throughout his one hour stint.

Third placed Jimmy Eriksson was reeling the battling lead trio in, making it a three way fight for the win as the end of the second hour approached. All three leaders entered the pitlane together, setting up a fantastic final hour of racing.

Slick pitwork from the Grasser Racing crew enabled Christian Engelhart to regain the lead in the #63 car, ahead of Raffaele Marciello in the #90 Mercedes and Maxi Buhk in the #84 HTP Motorsport car. Engelhart was put under immense pressure for his final stint, but resisted to the flag to take a well earned win. Second place went to the #84 HTP Motorsport Mercedes of Jimmy Eriksson, Maxi Buhk and Franck Perera, with the #90 AKKA ASP crew of Michael Meadows, Edoardo Mortara and Raffaelle Marciello completing the podium.

Pro-Am class victory went to Martin Kodric, Adrian Amstutz and Patrick Kujala in the #77 Barwell Motorsport Lamborghini Huracan, while the Am class win was taken by Pierre Ehret and Rino Mastronardi in the #488 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari.