High Class starts GT2 European Series with victory

The GT2 class was a reality and was already racing under the SRO umbrella, but still needed a dedicated series, which started this Saturday (17) with the first race of the Fanatec GT2 European Series, having the No. 33 High Class Racing Audi R8 LMS GT2 as the first winning car, driven by Anders Fjordbach and Mark Patterson.

After some contact in Turn 1 , the No. 5 Speed Factory Porsche held the lead as much as possible until the No. 33 High Class Audi found a lot of room to take first place until a brief yellow held the pace for a single lap.

Once the green returned it was a two car affair in front while the No. 9 Toro Verde GT Lamborghini was leading the chasing pack, with the No. 24 REITER KTM coming along for fourth place at the expense of the No. 44 SVC Lamborghini, which kept going down the order. The REITER KTMs No. 24 and 16 were in the battle for fourth, but with Hans-Joachim Stuck spinning at the exit of Ascari, Stefan Rosina had open way in the No. 16 to take the position away.

The pit window didn’t change the leader, but it gave a new look to the group behind, as the KTMs started falling, leaving the No. 81 PK Carsport Audi defending from the No. 5 Speed Factory Porsche, which lasted for around three laps until the overtake is done for second place, reestablishing the initial order, and with the No. 5 going away with second place, the No. 44 SVC Lamborghini and the No. 81 PK Carsport Audi, and despite some resistance from the Belgian Audi, the No. 44 was faster, enough to leave the No. 81 behind, close in the No. 5 and overtake for second place.

With the rest of the cars fighting way behind, Mark Patterson had open way and a huge gap to complete the job that Anders Fjordbach started with the No. 33 High Class Audi, winning by a comfortable margin, with the No. 44 SVC Lamborghini finishing in second and winning the Am Cup.

GT2 European Series - Monza Race 1 results

The second ever race of the Fanatec GT2 European Series will be held this Sunday at 9:30 AM GMT.

PHOTO: SRO/Dirk Bogaerts