GT4EU Nurburgring Race 1 Report
Date: [Insert Date]
Location: Nürburgring
In a dramatic first race at the Nürburgring, Josh Rattican and McKenzy Cresswell achieved their first victory of the season for the Elite Motorsport McLaren team, significantly tightening the battle for the Silver title. The race began with turmoil for championship contenders Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche, whose Team Speedcar Audi suffered an early retirement due to contact. Compounding their woes, a technical issue halted the Academy Motorsport Ford Mustang, creating a clear path for Elite to capitalize on the points lead.
Silver Class Highlights
The race unfolded with Rattican making a strong start, quickly moving from third to second after overtaking Jan Duran’s Matmut Évolution Toyota. He ultimately took the lead from Stanislav Safronov, who had started on pole in the Pro-Am Aston Martin. After a successful pit stop exchange with Cresswell, the McLaren maintained its position despite pressure from behind, ultimately surviving a late safety car restart to claim the win.
Notably, Berkay Besler and Gabriele Piana, starting 16th, climbed to finish third, positioning themselves as the new title threats, now trailing Consani and Lariche by 66 points. Rattican and Cresswell remain in contention, 75 points adrift.
Pro-Am Class Update
In the Pro-Am category, Stanislav Safronov and Aleksandr Vaintrub secured their third consecutive victory, overcoming a gearbox issue during their pit stop. Vaintrub rejoined in fifth overall but held off the advances of competitors to clinch the win. The result puts them just five points behind the class leaders, Hendrik Still and Joachim Bölting, who finished ninth after a series of penalties hampered their race.
Am Class Developments
The Am class saw a significant shift as Max Kronberg and Daniel Blickle, driving the W&S Motorsport Porsche, secured their fourth win of the season. Kronberg led the initial phase, and Blickle maintained the gap, finishing ahead of Hans Holmlund’s Toyota and the AV Racing Porsche duo. The title race has tightened, with Kronberg and Blickle now just one point behind the leading pair, Antoni de Barn and Jean-Mathieu Leandri, after they encountered penalties.
Race Results Summary
- Overall Winner: Josh Rattican / McKenzy Cresswell (Elite Motorsport McLaren)
- Pro-Am Winners: Stanislav Safronov / Aleksandr Vaintrub (Mirage Racing Aston Martin)
- Am Winners: Max Kronberg / Daniel Blickle (W&S Motorsport Porsche)
As the series approaches its penultimate round, the championship battles across all classes remain fiercely competitive, setting the stage for an electrifying final race weekend.
