The #63 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Hurracan enjoyed a clean sweep of results in the Blancpain Sprint Series Round at Brands Hatch with victory in the Main Race.
Mirko Bortolotti and Christian Engelhart redefined dominance in the ultra close GT3 series, took pole in qualifying by half a second and won both the qualifying race and the main race at a cantor.
The double victory has also promoted both drivers into the lead of the Sprint series championship.
The start of the Main race was similar to the qualifying race, as the #63 Lamborghini managed to get away quicker than Markus Palttala in the #98 ROWE Racing BMW M6 who was then jumped by the #19 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini.
Engelhart’s inital breakaway was prevented by a safety car at the end of the first lap, upon the restart he vanished up the road, his team-mate Ezequiel Perez Companc in the #19 Lamborghini held up the rest of the pack.
While Palttala attempted to figure out a way past the Lamborghini Felix Serralles in the #88 AKKA ASP Mercedes jumped him and while trying to respond, he made slight contact with his team-mate Antonio Felix De Costa in the #99 BMW.
This allowed Serralles onto the back of the Lamborghini while Engelhart pulled away up to three seconds a lap, a pace unheard of GT3 racing.
Perez Companc was the first to pit and could be justifably proud of his performance.
However after changing over to Norbert Siedler the driveshaft broke when trying to start away, ending all hopes of a GRT 1-2.
The pitstops also proved to be the downfall of the #99 ROWE Racing
The race started with a Grasser Racing Team 1-2. While the #19 Lamborghini held up the field, the #63 shot off into the distance for a commanding win. Credit: Olivier Beround/Vision Sport Agency
BMW of Philipp Eng, when the #88 Mercedes was released into his path breaking the front right suspension and pulled off at the end of the pitlane.
However, Engelhart’s stop was uneventful and Mirko Bortolotti set off to continue the good work of his team-mate.
WRT‘s famed pitwork saw the #2 and #17 Audis of Will Stevens and Robin Frijns up into second and third places, and behind them was the #85 Mercedes of Fabian Schiller the leading silver car which was an amazing effort considering it started the qualifying race from the back of the grid.
The Audis soon swapped places and Frijns eventually finished second and ex F1 driver Stevens held on to third, a good result considering Audi were never on the pace at Brands.
Bentley’s woes continued when the #8 Bentley of Maxime Soulet received a drive-thru penatly for a pitlane infringement.
The Sprint Series Championship leaders coming into Brands, the #84 HTP Mercedes of Maximilian Buhk and Franck Perera managed to finish sixth, a great result considering their 23rd place finish in the qualifying round.
Yet it was enough to lose the lead in both the Sprint Series and Overall Blancpain GT championship to the #63 GRT Lamborghini.
Pro-Am was again won by the #333 Rinaldi Ferrari of Alexander Mattschull and Daniel Keilwitz and finished 16th overall.
