GT4 European Series at Spa: Key Insights and Results
Race 1 Overview
In a dramatic opening race at Spa, Grégory Guilvert and Paul Petit secured their first victory of the GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club, leading a one-two finish for Team Speedcar Audi. This victory marked Guilvert’s first win since Barcelona 2021 and Petit’s inaugural overall win.
Despite a challenging qualifying, championship leaders Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani managed to finish second, 2.7 seconds behind, extending their points lead. In Pro-Am, W&S Motorsport’s Hendrik Still and Joachim Bölting claimed their fourth victory in five races, while Am class winners Daniel Blickle and Max Kronberg shocked the competition after misfortunes befell points leaders Chazel Technologie Course BMW.
Race Highlights
- Start and Early Chaos: Guilvert began fifth, quickly ascending to third as a multi-car incident triggered an early Safety Car. The collision knocked out title contenders, including the Academy Motorsport Ford Mustang.
- Strategic Pitting: Guilvert’s strategy of extending the pit window allowed him to capitalize on the clean air, enabling Petit to take the lead successfully.
- Podium Finishers:
- 1st: Guilvert/Petit (Audi)
- 2nd: Consani/Lariche (BMW)
- 3rd: Simpson/Gialdini (Ginetta)
Race 2 Overview
Gabriele Piana and Berkay Besler clinched their first win of the season in a shortened second race, after a red-flag incident on lap one involving multiple cars, including a notable collision involving Paul Petit’s Audi.
PB Racing’s Lotus emerged victorious in the Pro-Am category, while W&S Motorsport continued to dominate the Am class.
Race Highlights
- Red-Flag Incident: The race was halted due to a pile-up at Raidillon, caused by contact with Petit’s Audi. Six cars retired, but thankfully there were no serious injuries.
- Tight Battle: Piana fended off persistent pressure from McLaren drivers McKenzy Cresswell and Josh Rattican throughout the day.
- Podium Finishers:
- 1st: Piana/Besler (BMW)
- 2nd: Cresswell/Rattican (McLaren)
- 3rd: Consani/Lariche (BMW)
Pro-Am and Am Results
- Pro-Am saw PB Racing triumph with Naska and D’Aste taking the win.
- W&S Motorsport’s Kronberg and Blickle notched a significant victory in the Am class, tying the points standings with the BMW team.
Next Event
The GT4 European Series shifts to Misano, Italy, on the weekend of July 18-20.
Conclusion
The Spa races proved pivotal for several teams in the GT4 European Series, with strategic driving and quick decisions playing crucial roles in the outcome.
