CRS Racing left Spa-Francorchamps with two loads of silverware after not only a win their normal home – the GT Cup – but also the spoils from their eleventh hour entry into the Dutch Supercar Challenge.
Already having banked a fourth place from the first GT Cup race of the weekend Chris Niarchos and Tim Mullen set about aiming for the podium in the second race of the weekend around the legendary Belgian circuit.
However, the British pair had to begin their quest from 13th on the grid, Niarchos clambering up the field until the safety car came out on lap five for a big accident involving the two AF Corse Ferraris. The mandatory driver change completed in the pit stop window Mullen was able to pick off those ahead who Niarchos hadn't already, taking a second win of the season for the duo.
The race had a very different outcome for their stablemates Andrew Kirkaldy and Klaas Hummel, who started further up the grid than the ultimately victorious duo – in fourth. They emerged from La Source on lap one in second after driving around the outside of the right-hand hairpin. However, a potentially promising run was ended on lap five when, only minutes after Kirkaldy had reported the rear of the car feeling loose, the car crashed at Blanchimont into retirement.
Disappointment was short lived, however, as the same two drivers took the win in the Dutch Supercar Challenge, though there was more than a little luck involved.
The win, Hummel's first of the season, showed off his growing confidence in the car bolstered by the additional track race.
Such was the late, late nature of the team's entry in the team the Ferrari started from 36th on the grid, but Kirklady had carved through the majority of the multi-class field in just one lap, jumping up to eighth after just one circuit, pushing on to take the lead and gallop away to a 12 second lead.
It was a lead Hummel tried his best to protect, lasting until the penultimate lap, when Martin Short in one of the DSC's ever-present Moslers passed. Fortunately, a crash further around the track triggered the red flags, the CRS men being handed the win on countback.
“This has been an incredibly busy weekend for the team,” said the team's MD, Mark Busfield. “We were delighted to see Klaas take his first win with CRS, in his home championship too. He is improving fast at the moment so we just need to keep the momentum up for him. On the GT Open side it was unfortunate that Andrew had the crash in race two, which we suspect was caused by a slow puncture. It was great though to see Chris and Tim come through to take another win. “
