The 3 Hours of Tarumã, final race of the 2018 Endurance Brasil season, decided some titles that were left open, and while Scuderia 111 celebrated the race win with the No. 9 Mercedes AMG GT3, it was Chico Longo and Via Italia/TMG that got the championship after being second overall and in the GT3 class with the No. 19 Lamborghini Huracán GT3.
The MetalMoro AJR was smashing records again, with José Roberto Ribeiro clocking an impressive 55.990 during qualifying, leading de four MetalMoro prototypes that locked the first two rows, and he and Nilson Riberiro were the only drivers to lap below the 1 minute mark during the race, even though the advantage per lap didn’t translate into a win after the three hours of racing.
Grid numbers were reduced even before the race start as the No. 37 KTT Scorpion stayed in the garage for repairs and never left it, and temporarily more cars were taken down as the first race start saw the No. 56 Motorcar MRX start a chain reaction that sent the No. 43 Motorcar MRX and damaged the No. 63 MC Tubarão Aston Martin and the No. 32 MC Tubarão MRX. The prototypes were back to racing with some emergency repairs, but the No. 63 had extensive damage at the left rear corner, which included wheel, suspension and even the left door, and it couldn’t go back.
The race was red flagged at that time and the race start procedure was cancelled, and after 30 minutes to clear the main straight, a new start procedure took place with the clock already running, and the polesitter No. 65 NC Racing AJR opened the gap immediately while the No. 88, the No. 117 and the No. 11 being left behind to be gobbled down by the No. 5 MC Tubarão IX.
Behind them the GT3s were also getting closer, with the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes leading the class and doing everything possible to revert the championship scenario, being helped by the No. 19 Via Italia/TMG Lamborghini holding the No. 70 Stuttgart Porsche.
Everything was good for the No. 5 until the car stopped at the entrance of the Tala Larga bend due to transmission issues, so there was nothing left for Tiel Andrade than to be towed back to the pits, which brought the first full course yellow flag to the circuit. The restart didn’t affect the domination of the No. 65, as the lead was increased due to their high pace and some backmarker interference.
The No. 88 JLM AJR was the second victim of trouble in the P1 class, stopping at the same point of the No. 5 and also being towed to the pits, and on track the No. 65 had the No. 117 on its back with Fernando Ohashi trying to make a move, though Nilson Ribeiro remained in control of the situation until the lap 63, when the No. 117 brought along the No. 9 to go ahead of the No. 65, though Xandinho Negrão wasn’t satisfied with the second place and overtook Henrique Assunção for first place.
Some forceful interference of the No. 19 Via Italia/TMG Lamborghini gave them a drive through penalty for not respecting the blue flags, as Chico Longo was refusing to open the way to the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes, which was their GT3 class title rival, which sent it to third in class and gave the much needed clear air for the No. 70 Stuttgart Porsche, and with a right front puncture in the No. 117 JLM AJR, the No. 9 was reigning supreme in front.
A yellow flag period caused by the No. 64 MC Tubarão Audi TCR appeared in the middle of the second pit window and brought the pack together, but the No. 65 was quick to push and go for the lead with some quick moves by José Roberto Ribeiro, and as expected of the Tarumã record holder, his pace was way better than the contenders behind him, lapping under 1 minute consistently.
Most of the classes had their leaders in solo runs as threats were hardly in position to attack, with the examples of the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes in GT3, the No. 75 SATTI MRX in P2 and the No. 43 Motorcar MRX in P3.
The No. 65 was in a comfortable position with its good lead, specially with sticker tires being put in the final pit stop, but a stop of the No. 71 ECM MCR due to eletronic issues brought another Safety Car interference, which would put the No. 9 again in contention for the overall win. Everything was in place, but with 20 minutes to go the No. 65 was forced to pit due to a broken wheel bearing, which practically gifted the win to the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes, staying like this until the checkered flag, getting the overall and GT3 class wins.
The No. 11 JLM AJR still salvaged a P1 class win despite the troubled race, while the No. 75 SATTI MRX got the P2 class win with ease and a faultless run. The No. 43 Motorcar MRX survived in one piece the race start chaos and won the P3 class and the No. 64 MC Tubarão Audi TCR was the only GT4 class car on track, finishing 14th overall.
Of all champions crowned at Tarumã, only Fernando Fortes in the No. 11 JLM AJR had a class win to celebrate, along with the P1 title. Mauro Kern and Paulo Sousa in the No. 32 MC Tubarão MRX recovered from the race start scare, finished second and got the P2 title, and the biggest celebrations were with the Via Italia/TMG as Chico Longo got the overall and GT3 titles.
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