FFF Racing reigns supreme at Nürburgring

Andrea Caldarelli, Marco Mapelli and Mirko Bortolotti made sure the No. 63 FFF Racing Lamborghini Huracán GT3 Evo wasn’t threatened during the whole Endurance Cup race at the Nürburgring, winning the penultimate long distance race of the FANATEC GT World Challenge Europe calendar.

Lights went green and the No. 63 FFF Lamborghini kept the lead, even if pushing off the No. 88 AKKA-ASP Mercedes was a necessity. In about less than 10 minutes, most of the field was settled into a single file pack, waiting for opportunities to overtake.

The No. 63 and the No. 88 were class of the field in the initial moments, eventually getting away from the bigger pack, and the comfortable advantage was the trigger for first and second to pit early, even before the end of the first hour. The second hour saw the No. 4 HRT Mercedes emerge to third place while the No. 22 GPX Martini Porsche, podium contender in the first hour, went backwards after the pit stop, sitting in fifth place behind the No. 114 Emil Frey Lamborghini.

A brief Safety Car period near the half of the final gave opportunity to the No. 4 HRT Mercedes to close into the No. 88 AKKA-ASP Mercedes as traffic became a decisive factor with all cars bunched up. Behind the podium places, any chances of the No. 22 climbing up the table ended at the Schumacher S, as the Porsche slid in the dirty part of the track, finding the barrier and stopping with a broken rear wing. The No. 163 Emil Frey Lamborghini took the opportunity and swapped places with the sister No. 114 car, though it wouldn’t be enough to reach the podium.

Drama was the name of the game in the final minutes, as the No. 16 GRT Lamborghini saw the Silver Cup win slip between the fingers of a spinning Tim Zimmerman, who was rear ended and left the track with suspension damage, ending a long time domination from the Austrian team. Further ahead, the No. 63 had the No. 88 hot on its back wing, but despite the persistence of Jules Gounon, the No. 63 FFF Lamborghini still came out on top.

GTWC Europe - Nürburgring race results

The No. 14 Emil Frey Lamborghini had the Silver Cup win handed to them thanks GRT’s late misfortune, while the No. 19 FFF Lamborghini completed a full sweep for the Italian manufacturer by reigning supreme in the Pro-Am Cup.

Alessandro Pier Guidi, Côme Ledogar and Nicklas Nielsen still lead the Endurance Cup standings with 77 points against 64 of Charles Weerts and Dries Vanthoor, and 60 of race winners Caldarelli, Mapelli and Bortolotti. Things will be decided at the season finale in Barcelona, to be held on 10 October, with Endurance Cup title fights open in all three classes.

PHOTO: SRO/Patrick Hecq