BLACK FALCON takes vice championship in the Blancpain GT Series
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Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup – Race Report Round 5, Barcelona
After an eventful weekend at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona, BLACK FALCON and the drivers Maro Engel (DE) and Luca Stolz (DE) finished runner-up in the Blancpain GT Series driver and team standings. At the season finale of the Endurance Cup, Engel, Stolz and Yelmer Buurman (NL) in the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 fought a thrilling duel for the day's victory and the championship with the #563 Lamborghini of the FFF Racing Team until three minutes before the end of the race, before a collision with an Audi put an end to the title hopes. The team of the #6 Mercedes-AMG GT3, Patrick Assenheimer (DE), David Fumanelli (IT) and Hubert Haupt (DE), took second place in the Silver Cup class and thus the fourth podium place in the fifth race. In addition, the trio also delivered a strong performance and finished in seventh place overall. With this result, Assenheimer and Haupt secured second place in the Silver Cup Championship of the Endurance Cup.
Yelmer Buurman, Maro Engel and Luca Stolz impressed the whole race weekend with a strong performance. From the first session on, the #4 Mercedes-AMG GT3 was one of the fastest cars in the 46 car grid. In qualifying they took second place, directly in front of the #563 Lamborghini. At the start Engel fought a spectacular duel for the lead, before the safety car had to be put on track for the most part of his stint after a midfield collision. He handed over the car to Stolz after one hour leading the field. At the restart after another safety car phase near the middle of the race, Stolz and the #563 fought a wheel-to-wheel duel for the lead, which the Lamborghini finally won. Stolz stayed close to the #563, but further race interruptions prevented a serious duel. For the last hour Buurman took the wheel of the AMG GT3. Shortly before the end of the race, another safety car period shortened the gap between the two championship aspirants to a car length. After the restart a duel developed with the third-placed Audi, which ended in a collision. Buurman was able to continue the race, but lost a lot of time and crossed the finish line in 14th place. Despite the last-minute setback, BLACK FALCON, Engel and Stolz finished the team and driver standings of the Blancpain GT Series in excellent second place after ten race weekends. In the Endurance Cup classification, the team, Buurman, Engel and Stolz, finished third.
In the Silver Cup class Patrick Assenheimer, David Fumanelli and Hubert Haupt showed an excellent race pace and a strong race to catch up. Starting from 18th place in the overall classification and fourth position in the class, Haupt gained a place in the class and several positions in the overall classification in the first hour of the race. Assenheimer climbed into the green #6 AMG GT3 for the middle stint and made up further positions. After a strong performance, he handed the car over to Fumanelli in second place in the class and in the top-10 of the overall standings. Fumanelli, who raced with BLACK FALCON for the first time this weekend, substituted regular driver Gabriele Piana. The Italian impressed with a strong performance and finally crossed the finish line in seventh place overall and second in the Silver Cup. With this result Assenheimer and Haupt confirmed the strong performance of the season and secured the vice championship in the Silver Cup classification of the Endurance Cup.
Comments on the race
Sean Paul Breslin (Team Principal): "Our goal was to win the championship in Barcelona and to defend second place in the Silver Cup. The team gave everything to achieve these goals, but unfortunately it didn't work out with the title for #4. Nevertheless, we are very proud of our successes this year and it was a pleasure to work with the great people who are Black Falcon. Second in the Sprint Cup, second in the overall standings, third in the Endurance Cup and second in the Silver Cup - an excellent result. Thanks to the whole team!
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