THE SETTING
The last weekend of August is synonymous with the last days of vacation, even in motorsport. For the return to track of the GT cars the late August appointment marks the start of the second exciting part of the season. The Hungaroring circuit in Budapest is the forefather of Eastern European motor racing circuits, which saw its first F1 GP race in 1986, and is the setting of the fourth round of the Blancpain GT Series, the last but one, before the grand finale in Barcelona.
ON TRACK
Michael Broniszewski and Giacomo Piccini competed in Saturday’s Qualifying Race and took victory, crossing the chequered flag ahead of Team AKKA’s two Mercedes-AMG GT3s with drivers Bourret/Belloc and Beaubelique/Moulin-Trafford. In the AM class victory went to the Ferrari 458 GT3 AF Corse driven by Sdanewitsch/Mastronardi, while Steve Earle and David Perel finished third and thus stepped onto the podium. The Main Race took place on Sunday and completed the Hungarian weekend program. Broniszewski and Piccini took third place in the PRO-AM class, behind Team AKKA ‘s two Mercedes-AMG GT3s. However, Earle/Perel had great success in the AM class by taking victory ahead of two other successful Ferrari 458 GT3s, one deployed by AF Corse and driven by Sdanewitsch/Mastronardi, the other belonging to Team Black Pearl Racing with Parrow/Hook at the wheel.
THE FOCUS
RONNIE KESSEL (Team Principal): "Returning to racing after a short Summer break is nice and exciting just like the first day of school. Like a first homework assignment of the year it’s nice to come home with a good mark. It was also nice for the team in that it shows just how much hard work has been done so far during the season, and here in Budapest we went big with two wins and two podiums. See you in two weeks at Hockenheim with other races, more emotions and, hopefully, more success".