The first round of the European Le Mans Series Championship was no let down! The Silverstone 4 Hours on 19 April indeed saw unexpected occurrences in front of a crowd of some 40,000 spectators.
When, 45 minutes before the arrival, the win seemed a cert for Jota Sport's Zytek, an off-track excursion by Simon Dolan seeking to avoid a GT3 (and also unintentionally taking Larbre Compétition's car off track) challenged this ranking. After regrouping behind the safety car, three contenders stood out in the lead group, including Thiriet by TDS Racing's Morgan-Nissan (team partnered by Motul), driven by Tristan Gommendy. In the traffic, Tristan managed to get the upper hand over Race Performance's Orecca-Jud and built up his lead, managing to foil the traps set by the pack. 'I was behind Michel Frey, with tyres more worn than his,' comments Gommendy. 'When I reached the GTs, it was the decisive moment. I had to take risks, I couldn't stay like that! I think that my years in high-level single-seater racing helped me, I never felt off my guard in the traffic. I remained calm, I seized the opportunity and I passed him!' "
In LMGTE category, after a continuous battle between the two Ferrari F458 Italias of SMP Racing and AF Corse, the Italian team got the upper hand. SMP Racing, winner of the 2013 season and supported by Motul, bagged a solid second place, followed by another Motul team, IMSA Performance Matmut.
In GTC, we find again SMP Racing, present in both categories with its Ferrari 458 Italias, on the second step of the podium: victory slipped through its fingers by a tiny 7.4 seconds only!
Teams and drivers will meet again on the Imola circuit on 17 and 18 May.
Results
LMP2 category
01// Thiriet/Badey/Gommendy, TDS Racing, Morgan-Nissan - Motul
02// Frey/Mailleux, Race Performance, Oreca-Judd
03// Klien/Hirsch/ Brandela, Morand Racing, Morgan Nissan
LMGTE category
01// Cameron/Griffin/Rugolo, AF Corse, Ferrari F458 Italia
02// Bertolini/Shaitar/Zlobin, SMP Racing, Ferrari F458 Italia - Motul
03// Narac/Armindo/Hallyday, IMSA, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Motul
GTC category
01// Kruglyk/Chukanov/Pier Guidi, Team Ukraine, Ferrari F458 Italia GT3
02// Beretta/Marzokov/Ladygin, SMP Racing, Ferrari F458 Italia GT3 - Motul
05// Gonzalez/Ajlani/Brundle, ART Grand Prix, McLaren MP4 12C GT3 - Motul
Photo credits: David Reydgondeau
