Another fascinating weekend of Blancpain Sprint Series action started on Saturday morning with free practice sessions for the teams and drivers. Audi where looking to continue a strong start from Zolder, which saw them lead the championship going into the Brands Hatch round. Practice went largely without concern, as the drivers dialled in the setup for qualifying later that day.





Qualifying, as usual, was split into two segments so both drivers would have a chance behind the wheel. The series point leader Dries Vanthoor set the pace in the fist qualifying session, which will saw the Number 2 WRT Audi start from pole position for race one. Race two qualifying was a closer affair with AKKA ASP’s Raffaele Marciello being fastest for the majority of the session. The Mercedes driver was unlucky not to grab pole, but a blistering lap from Vervisch put an Audi on the pole once again.

Sunday was host to both of the races this weekend for the teams and drivers. With the temperature rising and stress levels along with it - Race one got underway as the clock hit midday at Brands Hatch. Vanthoor got a fantastic start in the Number 2 Audi from pole position and set the pace out front for the first stint.





The Audi’s where on top form this weekend and this proved to be the case once again, with only the Mercedes of Marciello and Meadows able to keep up with them. Even 2017 race winner Mirko Bortolotti struggled in his Lamborghini, which did not seem to quite have the pace to stay upfront with the Audi’s and the Number 88 Mercedes.





As the drivers swapped over in the pit window, it became apparent that Steven’s in the leading Audi was starting to be caught by Van Der Linde in the Number 66 Audi. This would then become a four car train with Mies and Marciello all closing in on Stevens. Race 2 pole sitter Vervisch even got in on the action, catching the front four with a few laps to go.





Van Der Linde had struggled to overtake on the narrow Brands Hatch GP Loop and was set to finish second, until damage to the car sadly cost the team a great podium finish. A fantastic defensive drive from Stevens meant that the Number 2 Audi completed a lights to flag victory, with the Number 1 Audi finishing in second. A sterling job from Meadows and Marciello saw the pair finish on the podium, even with a Mercedes which seemed to lack the edge of the Audi’s this weekend.

After a fascinating first race, everyone’s focus would pan to the second race at 16:40 Local time. Vervisch had set an amazing lap time to set pole position and he would make the most of that getting the jump on the second placed Mercedes of Marciello. The number 88 Mercedes would then be stuck on the outside going into turn one and was forced to touch the gravel to avoid any contact with the second Audi which was up his inside. After the first lap it was another sweep for Audi, with the Number 17 leading the Number 1 and Number 66.





Lap one also saw a large accident which all stemmed from contact at Druids Hairpin. Jack Manchester made slight contact with the Number 32 Bentley which was collected by the Number 31 Bentley and the luckless Russian pairing in the Number 35 Mercedes. The Number 19 Lamborghini also suffered a lap one retirement after ending it’s day in the gravel at Druids hairpin after contact.

Race 1 winner Stevens struggled off the start and ended up right at the back, after the safety car to clear up the lap one debris, they would retire the car after just 17 laps. It was a sad ending to what was a great weekend up to that point for the Number 2 WRT Audi team.





The battle out front was a spectacle as always. Vervisch and Mies would hold a strong 3 second lead over the Number 66 Audi which was struggling to keep the rapid Number 88 AKKA ASP Mercedes of Raffaele Marciello behind. The Italian was very disappointed in his start, but struggled to overtake on a track which offered little overtaking opportunities.

As the pit stops started, some teams took the opportunity to get their faster driver into the car, while others thought it would be best to stay out. With overtaking a challenging prospect, this was a vital time for all involved to make up some positions. Stuart Leonard took over the leading Audi and resisted pressure from the Number 1 Audi after the pitstop. While trying to gain time on the leading Audi’s, Marciello pushed the Mercedes to limit and made slight contact with the wall in pit lane. The car was fine, but it was great to see such commitment from the Italian to try and gain positions.





Going into the final stages, the top three started to close up. However, as we saw in race one it was very tough to make a pass. The Audi teams would have thought it was best to keep it cool with a 1-2-3 seemingly in the bag. The leading three still ended just 1.5 seconds apart with the Number 88 Mercedes finishing 4th. Another 1-2-3 for Audi was confirmed at the chequered flag and a fantastic win for Vervisch and Leonard. Mies and Riberas picked up more important points in P2, and the number 66 Audi for Van Der Linde and Schothorst picked up a deserving podium.

Another enthralling weekend of Blancpain sprint series racing was concluded on Sunday evening and more importantly, we have an incredibly close championship battle going forward.





Leonard leads the standings by himself after having a change in team mates in the opening two rounds. He sits on 37 points, just 1.5 points clear of Van Der Linde and Schothorst on 35.5. In third is Mies and Riberas on 33.5 Points. Marciello and Meadows did well to score strongly on an Audi-suited track and currently sit fourth on 31 Points. Vanthoor and Stevens dropped to fifth, on 30.5 points, after a disappointing Sunday and Zolder winners Bortolotti and Engelhart dropped all the way to sixth after a very tough weekend for Lamborghini.





All other results and statistics can be viewed at https://www.blancpain-gt-series.com/

Article written by Alex Baldwin - Follow me @alexzafro on Instagram and Twitter