After the race Championship endurance race at Spa, it would seem, can have nothing to surprise, but next weekend Blancpain GT Series, held at this weekend in the Sprint Cup format on the English track Brand's Hatch again brought untold pleasure packed to the grid (37 cars), unrealistic speeds, crazy sounds of engines and beautiful struggle.

The race at Brands Hatch is definitely added to understand the balance of power in the 2016 season as the overall in the championship, as well as directly in the Sprint Cup. But despite the emerging picture could still change — there is still seven races, and I personally hope that the crew of the Russian team №333 Rinaldi Racing, who is now desperately unlucky, even be able to make all the right points.

After three races on the number of points in the overall standings lead pilot of McLaren # 58 Rob Bell (Garage 59 team). His co-driver Alvaro Parente only the 9th place in the standings, as not acting Endurance Series. Following — HTP Motorsport team of the pilots on the Mercedes AMG GT3, the crew behind them Bentley №8, further crew Audi # 1 and Audi # 33 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT.

I have to say, and about the sixth position, because this is important. The crew of five-time DTM champion Bernd Schneider and a young but desperate Zimkovyaka Jules, who last year took part in the youth Silver Cup at the Bentley, climbed to 6th place despite the fact that the declared only in the Sprint series. They had a very nice race in Misano, but Sunday's Brands Hatch only confirmed once again that skill is not lost, and in the talent age has no effect.

However, the inspiration — also an important part of winning, but today was not to occupy Britain pilots inspiration.

After Saturday's qualifying pole position went to the crew of # 74 Czech ISR team at the Audi R8, and I must say that he is «on a thin» was because it is literally on the heels of a difference of tenths of a second advancing two Mercedes AMG GT3 # 86 and # 84, and Jules Zimkovyaka Dzheyzmana Jafar. The biggest failure in qualifying, you can call the 24-th position of the crew team №8 Bentley M-Sport, which won the qualifying race in the first round at Misano, Monza and won 3rd place.

The qualifying race

Qualifying race is traditionally a bit monotonous, no one in particular is not «tear soles» and once again not in danger because points for a victory charge a little bit (of eight), but the risk of being left without a car to the main race is high and unjustified. The main objective here is perhaps to maintain the position if it is high enough, or still try to gently play a few places, if possible. Nevertheless, watch race still interesting as care and skill here go hand in hand, and great speed on the highway erected what is happening about the level of a god.

Already at the start, Jules Zimkovyak (Mercedes AMG GT3 # 86) easily took first place at the Frank Perera, and the Audi R8 LMS №33 rose from 4th place to third. Distributed on a line pilots continued «dokatyvayutsya» to the mandatory pit stop, during which the position in the race a little bit changed. Thus, the Audi # 1 Belgian club climbed 3 positions, closing the top five.

Ferrari # 333 Rinaldi Racing qualified 14-E and 14-E is finished and not the best of their race, but it should be noted that the British circuit in general has not been kind to the Italian cars. The higher the result showed only crew on the Lamborghini Huracan # 63, the rest were in the final statements even lower.

It is clear that an experienced and Schneider can not, but his attempt to say a pleasant young pilot looks very cute.

If we talk about the breakout, then that's really truly in this race was not equal to the crew Bentley Boys №8 (Andy bitches and Maxim Sula), who managed to play 14 positions and finished in tenth place, taking the first step in such a way to the podium in the main race.

The first three places in the qualifying race:

1. 86 Bernd Schneider, Jules Szymkowiak; HTP Motorsport; Mercedes-AMG GT

2. 74 Marlon Stockinger, Franck Perera; ISR; Audi R8 LMS

3. 33 Enzo Ide, Christopher Mies; Belgian Audi Club Team WRT; Audi R8 LMS

The main race

30-degree heat and perfect blue sky — Britain rarely pleases its guests with such weather.

Bernd Schneider to AMG GT3 # 86 takes a great start and immediately creates a comfortable lead over his pursuers. Enzo Ide on the Audi # 33 ahead of the nursing crew №74 and goes to second place, but in this race the main character becomes definitely Bentley # 8. Fantastic start Maxim Sule, who just worked wonders on the track, lead the crew first on the 6 position, and then just for a couple of laps he was already winning over the fourth position. For 21 minutes the race Maxim Sule third, leaving the Audi # 74 nasedaya far behind and on to the Audi # 33.Bylo see how the whole team Bentley M-Sport just held my breath in front of monitors, watching such an incredible driving.

However, perhaps the team Bentley M-Sport has made a strategic mistake by not zazvat your pilot for a pit stop immediately when opened 10-minute window. Audi # 33 quickly darted to the pitlane, even when I was a little traffic, and just as quickly was able to get back on track. It is clear that at this point they have lost second place, but in the end it became clear that their strategy was the right one. The leader of the race, Bernd Schneider and attacking his Maxim Sula stopped at pitstop already under a curtain, mechanics Bentley outdone themselves, having the fastest pit stop of the race, but replaced Sula Andy bitches still not managed to beat the Jules Zimkovyaka, vynyrnuvshego in front of him at the last moment, and after leaving the track, both cars were behind most of the Audi # 33.

Not the least role in the outcome of the race played a circular, Bentley Division of Mercedes, plus a crash between the Audi # 2 and # 3, which led to the departure of the safety car on the track, could affect the balance of power, but not affected. As a result, when the 10 minutes before the finish seyfiti car returned to the pitlane or Jules Zimkovyak nor Andy bitches and could not do anything to make your way to the lead. Christopher Mays stubbornly defended against all attacks of the young Dutchman, a Bentley and had to be satisfied with third place. But to the delight of Team Bentley M-Sport mechanics in the competition at the pitstop (and Blancpain GT Series and have a contest) won just their guys!

As for our bright green Ferrari # 333, right after quite a successful start there was a rear wheel puncture, because of which was severely damaged kit. Marco Zifrid, piloted the Ferrari, managed to get to the boxes, but the damage had already been such that it was decided on technical gathering. As a result, the British track the pilots Ferrari # 333 did not collect any points.

The first three places in the main race:

1. 33 Enzo Ide, Christopher Mies Belgian; Audi Club Team WRT; Audi R8 LMS

2. 86 Bernd Schneider, Jules Szymkowiak; HTP Motorsport; Mercedes-AMG GT

3. 8 Maxime Soulet, Andy Soucek; Bentley Team M-Sport; Bentley Continental GT3

Next competition Blancpain GT Series will be held May 14–15 on the track at Silverstone in the format of 3-hour race.