To end the 2017 season, the Blancpain GT Sprint Series final meeting was held at one of the most famous tracks on the European motor scene: the Nurburgring. The GP Strecke poses a challenge, laden with pitfalls, where driving skill makes all the difference in a championship that includes over thirty cars, all with similar characteristics.
SATURDAY
After the trial session on Friday, Saturday saw the qualifying race, which saw Team HTP Motorsport and their Mercedes-AMG take overall victory with Perera and Buhk. In the "PRO-AM" class, the Bhirombhakdi-Van Dam team, with the Kessel Racing's Ferrari 488 GT3 won third place. Another win for Earle-Perel with the Ferrari 458 GT3 in the "AM" class, a category in which they had already been crowned Champions in the penultimate meeting in Budapest, during the last weekend of August.
SUNDAY
Sunday's Main Race closed the Sprint Series season: in the "PRO-AM" class, an improving performance in the Ferrari 488 GT3, by Bhirombhakdi-Van Dam, who reached second. Our two drivers missed out on first place by mere points to be a very close category runner-up in the Sprint 2017. Stephen Earle and David Perel, however, came first overall, at the checkered flag.
Ronnie Kessel (Team Owner): "Today we closed the GT Sprint season, a season that saw us close with honour in second place among drivers, with Bhirombhakdi-Van Dam, and also as a Team in the PRO-AM class. I am very pleased with this first year of collaboration with our Thai team partner TP12 and I believe there is a basis for a lasting relationship. Earle-Perel and the Team enjoyed great success in the AM class, a success that extends what we saw in 2016 and which certainly enriches our trophy room in Lugano. The season has entered the decisive stage and we will be on track in Silverstone, next weekend, to do battle in the Ferrari Challenge. It will be a very important and emotional season end. "
UPCOMING EVENTS
After closing the GT Sprint season for the Blancpain Endurance Series, 2017 will be brought to a close with the last test, scheduled for Barcelona on the Montmelò circuit in two weeks, while next week the appointment is at Silverstone for the season’s fifth round of the Ferrari Challenge Europe.