+ McLaren proves untouchable with twin wins at Zandvoort
+ Hart and Cresswell snatch Silver points lead from Schnitzelalm
+ Team Speedcar wins again in Pro-Am to close the gap
+ Result: Race 2, Zandvoort
A superb attacking drive from McKenzy Cresswell and Charlie Hart helped the pair to a clean sweep of wins at Zandvoort that elevated the Elite Motorsport McLaren pair into the Silver points lead.
Despite dropping from pole to second early on, Cresswell kept the pressure on the race leader before Hart took over and attacked with all he had, eventually squeezing past to do the double in the #78 McLaren. The result also came at a pivotal time in the championship, with former points leaders Enrico Förderer and Cedric Fuchs suffering their worst event of the year, meaning Cresswell and Hart knock them off the head of the championship for the first time this season.
This also proved to be no title decider for Pro-Am, with Sacha Bottemanne and Viny Beltramelli’s controlled win meaning Joakim Walde and Victor Bouveng leave Zandvoort with a reduced points lead and just two races remaining. Daniel Blickle and Max Kronberg moved clear in Am after recovering from an early off to win while their class rivals were disqualified.
Hart attacks make the difference
When the lights went out Cresswell was forced to immediately go on the defensive as Paul Petit’s Team Speedcar Audi attempted to squeeze between the McLaren and the TeamFloral Mustang that started second in the hands of Kiano Blum.
All three survived the squeeze to continue, but it cost Cresswell the lead as the Ford got the better run through the opening few corners. Blum drove impressively on his GT4 Europe debut, keeping Cresswell at arm’s length across the first half before pitting for Sam Paley. Cresswell opted to stop a lap earlier to hand to Hart, and the Mustang rejoined just in front of the McLaren, which was up to operating temperature already.
Hart made a move for the lead but was squeezed wide. He recovered to attack again, picking his moment perfectly to slip up the inside of Paley and claim a lead the car would not lose. Once ahead, Hart pulled clear to secure a big win.
Paley was also comfortably second to record the best finish for a Mustang so far this year, but the fight for third proved somewhat bizarre. Erik Evans made it two Mustangs inside the top three over the early stages, but opted to run long during the pit window, so long that he actually missed it. By the time he was called in to hand to Nathan Vanspringel, the car was handed a 10-second penalty for the infringement, which cost it any hope of a podium.
Thomas Rackl and Gabriele Piana proved the overtaking kings, with Rackl making up a load of ground from P18 on the grid before Piana kept up the momentum, drafting past Vanspringel to claim Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport’s first GT4 Europe podium at Zandvoort, a full 15 places up from the car’s starting position.
Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche were fourth in the #1 Team Speedcar Audi ahead of Mees Houben and Lachlan Evennett’s Speedy Supra, which completed a strong weekend. Lluc Ibañez and Alex Papadopulos were sixth for NM Racing Team ahead of the penalised Evans/Vanspringel Mustang. Fuchs and Förderer again struggled to make progress, and a penalty for a short pitstop just compounded their weekend, leaving them ninth.
Team Speedcar’s double keeps Pro-Am champagne on ice
Bottemanne and Beltramelli knew they had to win to keep their Pro-Am title ambitions alive, and the #3 Team Speedcar Audi proved unshakable. Bottemanne was well out front of the class competition in the first half before Beltramelli stayed out of trouble to secure a fine double win and keep the pair in sight of the class championship.
Daniel Nilsson and Edvin Hellsten stole second in a photo-finish, the Nova Racing Porsche dragging to the line just 0.007s ahead of the W&S Cayman of Tim Horrell and Alon Gabbay. Ravi Ramyead and Charlie Robertson recovered from being hit into a spin to finish fourth, a place ahead of points-leaders Walde and Bouveng, who leave Zandvoort with their championship lead halved to 30 points after an off-colour weekend.
Blickle and Kronberg’s race looked to be lost when Blickle was shuffled wide and through the Turn 1 gravel at the start. However, consistent stints from both drivers helped them recover to beat Gazoo Racing Sweden’s Supra in the hands of Mikael and Christoffer Brunnhagen. Blickle's points advantage was then boosted when the #55 was disqualified for a technical infringement post-race, putting the German in prime position to secure the crown in Portugal.
The results mean all three GT4 European Series titles will go to the finale at Portimão in October.