The Blancpain GT Series 2016 comes to an end this weekend with the final round of the Sprint Cup. The closing round of the season will take place on a stellar venue: it will be the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, the F.1 track in the outskirts of the Catalan capital, to host the event, making its debut in the Blancpain calendar. Suspense and expectations levels will be high, as no less than four titles are still to be decided, with both the Drivers’ and Teams’ crowns in both the Sprint Cup and the overall Blancpain GT Series at stake. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT is in contention for the … four, with varying chances, and will go to Spain with its 6-car entry absolutely determined to bring back as many honours as possible.
It is in the Sprint Cup Drivers’ competition that things look better for the Belgian squad, as Enzo Ide and Christopher Mies, after a terrific season, lead the standings by 17 points. Racing calendars are such, though, that Christopher Mies will not be able to attend the final round, as in the same weekend he will be in Hockenheim fighting for the ADAC GT Masters title, being a points leader there too. Enzo Ide will therefore go alone for the Sprint Cup title, exceptionally associated with Robin Frijns. The young Belgian is extremely focused ahead of the decisive moment: “We’ll do everything to win the title”, says Ide, “but anything can happen, especially with such a high level of competition. To start the weekend with a points advantage is positive, it doesn’t put us in a situation to have to win mandatorily. But, clearly, we’ll go for the best possible result, as we have always done this season. I know Barcelona, so that is not a problem, and to be paired with Robin for this race is great, as he is a driver of the same level of Christopher. From
a personal point, if I win the championship, I will have a little regret not to share it with Chris, as we have done all the season together, but that’s life, he can’t be in two places at the same time, and I wish him all the best in his chase for the ADAC GT Masters title.”
Frijns will be replaced in car #4, alongside Dries Vanthoor, by Nico Müller. The rest of the formation is unchanged, with Laurens Vanthoor-Fred Vervisch in car #1, Stuart Leonard-Michael Meadows in car #2, Rodrigo Baptista-Sérgio Jimenez in car #3 and Will Stevens-René Rast in car #28. A super team, thus, which will be needed to try to conquer the Sprint Cup Teams’ title, where the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT currently lies second, 9 points from the top.
In the overall Blancpain GT Series, the challenge is more demanding, with the squad also in second position in the Teams’ standings, 14 points from the top. In the Drivers’ competition, the best-placed driver is Laurens Vanthoor, third but with a gap of 29 points.
Ahead of the decisive event, Team Principal Vincent Vosse reflects: “We are still in the race for a number of titles and determined to fight until the end, as usual, but the primary objective is to help Enzo securing the Drivers’ crown. We will aim, of course, at the best possible collective result and it will be nice to have a number of cars in the top positions. That would be the best way to defend our chances, although in the other standings we also depend on our rivals’ results. Barcelona is in the Blancpain scene for the first time, so it will be something new for everybody, and we’ll see how things go. We tested there and I believe it is not a bad track for the Audis R8 LMS, but it is way too early to say anything. This event will mark the end of our main programme but not of the season. Still, after Barcelona will be a good moment to take stock of what we have achieved and assess our plans for the future.”
The autumn event in Catalonia will have an unusual schedule, with all free practice and qualifying taking place on Saturday and the two one-hour races on Sunday. The Qualifying Race is scheduled at 9:15 in the morning, the Main Race at 14:10.
The video tracing back the Belgian Audi Club Team WRT’s endeavor at the Total 24 Hours of Spa this year has now been released. Live again all the emotions of this unique race on: https://youtu.be/IU9v3ygY0KM (English version) https://youtu.be/uOZfqzPSGnk (French version)
Blancpain Sprint Series - Round 5
Circuit de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
1st-2nd October 2016
Timetable (all times local = CET)
Saturday 1st October 2016
09:00-09:40 Free Practice (Silver & Bronze drivers only)
09:40-10:20 Free Practice 1
12:30-13:50 Free Practice 2 15:30-15:45 Qualifying 1
15:52-16:07 Qualifying 2
16:15-16:25 Qualifying 3
Sunday 2nd October 2016 09:15-10:15 Qualifying Race (1 hr)
14:10-15:10 Main Race (1 hr)
Belgian Audi Club Team WRT entries
#1 Laurens Vanthoor (B) – Frédéric Vervisch (B)
#2 Stuart Leonard (GB) – Michael Meadows (GB) (Silver Cup)
#3 Sérgio Jimenez (BR) - Rodrigo Baptista (BR)
#4 Dries Vanthoor (B) – Nico Müller (CH)
#28 Will Stevens (GB) – René Rast (D)
#33 Enzo Ide (B) – Robin Frijns (NL)
Sprint Cup Provisional Drivers’ standings (Pro) after Round 4 of 5:
1. Ide-Mies 79 points
2. Baumann-Buhk 62
3. Schneider-Szymkowiak 59
4. Bell-Parente 56
5. L.Vanthoor-Vervisch 46
6. Rast-Stevens 37
13. D.Vanthoor 12
14. Frijns 10
Sprint Cup Provisional Teams’ standings (Pro) after Round 4 of 5:
1. HTP Motorsport 90 points
2. Team WRT 81
3. Belgian Audi Club 75
4. Garage 59 59
5. ROWE 36
Blancpain GT Series Provisional Drivers’ standings (Pro) after Round 9 of 10:
1. Buhk-Baumann 129 points
2. Bell 124
3. L.Vanthoor 100
4. Mies 97
5. Vervisch 91
16. D.Vanthoor 57
18. Stevens 56
19. Rast 55
… etc
Blancpain GT Series Provisional Teams’ standings (Pro) after Round 9 of 10:
1. HTP Motorsport 160 points
2. Belgian Audi Club 146
3. Garage 59 130
4. Team WRT 110
5. Bentley M-Sport 105
