Endurance Brasil visited Goiânia for the first time this weekend, which meant that for most of the field the new circuit factor was on high. Via Italia Racing took advantage of their test at the circuit ealier this month and won the 4 Hours of Goiânia with the No. 19 Ferrari 488 GT3 of Chico Longo and Daniel Serra, although luck played a part on this as a terrible day for the prototype field wiped out most of them of the race or the fight for overall honors.
The race marked the return of the Sigma P1, with a huge change in appearance compared to its 2018 outings, and also had a brief stint of Englishman Mike Simpson, who was initially giving support to Team Ginetta Brasil and their G57s but later was elected to race in the Stillux Racing Ginetta G55 GT4.
The green flag was out and the No. 88 JLM Racing AJR took control while the No. 65 NC Racing AJR was left behind. While the field was on the second lap, the No. 175 Império AJR stopped with problems, with the team working on everything they could to put the car back to track. Also out of action was the No. 10 Stillux Ginetta GT4, with Simpson doing the driving.
The GT3 class was especially entertaining in the first hour, as the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes was holding the lead while the sister No. 8 Mercedes was holding the No. 19 Via Italia Ferrari as sparks were flying for second place in the class. With an accidental off from the No. 9, the class lead was handed to the No. 19.
The front runners were mostly in clean races, even though most of the JLM Racing AJRs were knocked out during the first hour, which left only the No. 88 JLM Racing AJR and the No. 20 Ginetta were the only ones left fighting directly in the P1 class, as well for overall honors, while the GT3 pack was right behind. A transmission problem sent the No. 88 JLM Racing AJR to an undesired stop, promoting the No. 20 Ginetta to the overall lead while the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes was leading the GT3 class and was sitting in second overall, matching the pace of the British prototype.
Things remained stable until moments near the final hour, when the No. 8 Scuderia 111 Mercedes stopped on track and gave the class lead to the No. 19 Via Italia Ferrari, which brought a brief Safety Car period.
With less than an hour to go the Ginetta made the final stop, but steering wheel issues hindered the progress of the No. 20, and although the P1 class lead was still with it, the overall lead was already with the No. 19 Via Italia Ferrari. Daniel Serra then drove the No. 19 Ferrari in a conservative pace, which guaranteed for the team not only the overall win but also the GT3 class win.
Although losing the overall win, the No. 20 Ginetta still salvaged the P1 class win, the first triumph in Brazilian soil for the Ginetta G57. The overall podium was completed by the No. 9 Scuderia 111 Mercedes after a fierce battle with the No. 55 Stuttgart Porsche.
Other three class winners were in the overall top-10, as GT4 class winner No. 16 Stillux Ginetta GT4 finished fifth, the No. 155 Agrocete Ferrari won the GT3 Light class and finished sixth, and the P3 class winner was the No. 89 RealDrive Radical, finishing eighth overall. The No. 21 Mottin Mercedes CLA won the GT4 Light class and rounded the top-10, while the No. 34 Motorcar MRX won the P4 class.
The only class with no cars finishing the race was the P2, and this fact happened for the second time straight in this season.
The Endurance Brasil circle will have a shorter break, of only two weeks, as it comes down south, with the 3 Hours of Tarumã happening on June 15th, with the awaited debuts of the No. 80 KIA Power Imports JLM Racing AJR and the No. 110 DTR prototype.
PHOTO - Endurance Brasil/MS2
PHOTO - Endurance Brasil/MS2
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