AF Corse and Akkodis-ASP get Brands Hatch wins in GTWC Europe

Back to United Kingdom, back to Brands Hatch. The sweeping and narrow Kent based circuit was host of the first Sprint Cup round of the FANATEC GT World Challenge Europe, with no predominant force over the weekend as AF Corse and Akkodis-ASP shared the wins of the double header.

Race 1 started with a Silver Cup car in front as the No. 53 AF Corse Ferrari was able to held position as not everybody was eager to take risks in a crowed pack at Paddock Hill bend, except for three cars that ended in the gravel and another one that spun on the inside.

First half of racing had Ulysse de Pauw as the star, opening the gap to Jules Gounon and delivering the No. 53 to Pierre Alexandre Jean with some cushion to the opponents. To not do any favors to Akkodis-ASP, the No. 88 Mercedes lost extra time with the left rear tire change in the pit window, offering the second place for the No. 32 WRT Audi, and despite the best efforts of Dries Vanthoor to attack Jean, the No. 53 AF Corse Ferrari was unbeatable, securing the overall and Silver Cup wins.

GTWC Europe Brands Hatch - Race 1 results

The No. 32 WRT Audi had to settle for the Pro Cup win from second overall, while AF Corse had more to celebrate, as the No. 21 Ferrari brought the Pro-Am Cup win from a dominant performance.

AKKA-ASP had the pole for Race 2 in a slightly damp track, and dashing into Paddock Hill was crucial for Raffaele Marciello to avoid the chaos of the crowded pack. Compensating for the Race 1, Marciello decided to go away with first place, leaving the No. 25 Saintéloc Audi and the No. 32 WRT Audi on their particular battle for second place.

Timur Boguslavskiy just completed the job that Marciello started, never allowing anyone to come closer of the No. 88 Akkodis-ASP Mercedes, and with the No. 32 WRT Audi bust with the No. 89 Akkodis-ASP Mercedes, the only possible opponent didn’t have the power to attack the Race 2 winner.

GTWC Europe Brands Hatch - Race 2 results

While coming home in sixth overall, the No. 53 AF Corse could at least score the Silver Cup win with authority, while the No. 111 JP Motorsport McLaren won the Pro-Am Cup.

On 14-15 May, Magny-Cours will be host of the second round of the Sprint Cup, third round of the GTWC Europe calendar.

PHOTOS: SRO/Dirk Bogaerts, Patrick Hecq