Вся галерея мероприятияYou can talk as much as long as the viewers arrive at the circuit to watch the tenacious struggle of pilots and the beautiful overtaking. This is history for professionals or for those who closely follow each season. As a simple spectator, it comes to the race for accidents, as well as everything that is popularly called the «meat». Well, see the blazing car worth about half a million euros — all rare good luck! And I must say that in this time on the track Paul Ricard this was all in abundance!
The third stage of Blancpain Endurance Series 1000 km Paul Ricard traditionally takes place on the track at Le Castel is considered a dress rehearsal for the main race of the season — a 24-hour Endurance ring on the Belgian Spa-Francorchamps, which will be held in late July.
In this connection, and select the appropriate stage format: it lasts 6 hours, and «leaves» on the night that the team can hone their skills at different times of the day.
At this time, all, of course, very lucky that the race started at 6 pm: stifling heat, which was in those days in the south of France, anyone can drive one crazy. In the afternoon in the shade temperature rose well above the 30-degree mark, so you can imagine how pilots feel in hot cars, «bludgeoning» to the maximum, in a special underwear, helmet and overalls. Even taking into account the fact that the GT-modern cars are equipped with air conditioning, the thermometer still surpasses the mark of 50 degrees.
In parallel with the Blancpain Endurance Series was held on the track two more competitions: Formula V8 3.5, which was attended by Yegor Orujov? acting with the support of SMP Racing — and won the second stage of the race! — And Blancpain Club GT (it is, so to speak, the younger brother of GT Series, for novice drivers and gentleman drivers with little coasting).
In parallel with this, there is one more event. It is, perhaps, not much in terms of content, but extremely well in its form. It Ultracar Sports Club, that is an amazing opportunity, when on the track in all its glory can see the Porsche 911 GT1, Pagani Huayra and Gumpert Apollo.
In the main race start at the Paul Ricard left 58 cars in three categories — Pro, Pro-Am and Am. Among them were two crew and with the Russian pilots: for Kaspersky Motorsport team played A constantly pilot Alexander Moiseev (aka executive director of Kaspersky Lab Europe), and his partner became the Belgian driver Stephane Lemeret. Rinaldi Racing Team, this time represented by Rinat Salikhov together with Pierre Age. Both crews competed in this time in the Am class, but both claimed the top place at the finish, and in principle, they had every chance.
The relief of the French route is that after the start-finish line begins a series of turns and chicanes, and with a height difference. But due to the width of the road and a huge departure zones, painted blue and red stripes, the space for maneuver for pilots is always a lot. But the speed after the first chicane completely mad: powerful GT cars immediately accelerated under 300 km / h. So, of course, the first departures and accidents occur here, on the way down to the Chicane And it is here on the first lap out of luck Rinat Salikhov, who started the race on a bright green Ferrari 488. After contact with №4 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Rinaldi Racing car flew in a straight line to the distant rumble strips, and there remained standing. Moreover, the Audi # 4, accompanied by Rinat car to bump stop, after a while made an attempt to get back on the track, but then also completely gone.
Much more successful had the beginning of the race the team Kaspersky Motorsport. The race begins Alexander Moiseev on the Ferrari 458, and one of the last positions on the grid and from the sixth position in the AM class with time 1.59.053 qualification (compared to the best time qualifying in the Pro category — 343 1.56). In principle, the peloton of six dozen cars a difference in 2.5 seconds — this is incredibly short period of time, which indicates a very high level of training for all pilots, and very little difference between the professional and gentleman-driver.
Alexander at the beginning very quickly managed to break into the leading position in its class, and did so gracefully, beating their rivals both at the start and beating them during the first laps.
In parallel to the absolute two Bentley №7 and №8 Team Bentley M Sport also easily and naturally broke through in the first place on the first lap after the exit on Mistral straight, ahead of the two Ferrari AF Corse team of qualified higher number №53 and 50, and very quickly established very comfortable reserve in ten seconds.
So to all and continued, but the problems with ABS in the early arrival «herded» №7 to the pits for repairs, and after his return to the distance of no good result for the crew say it was impossible. But Bentley # 8 was leading almost all the remaining time. Nevertheless, in spite of the separation, the persecutors did not actually let him go, then periodically reducing, slightly increasing the distance.
In principle, the race took place, they say, «scheduled», until the far turn almost on the horizon suddenly pushed clouds of smoke. On one of the distant bends broke the engine at the Porsche # 77 Attempto Racing team and the car immediately caught fire. Firefighters responded to an incident at a fantastic rate and very quickly put out the blazing car. Fortunately, the pilot was able to estimate the time that happened in a Porsche aft, stop in a safe place and leave the car.
However, the incident provoked a long time on the road next FCY mode at the time of the final fighting and evacuation of the car, allow plenty of crews on call pitstop and win back some time.
It is interesting that at this stage it pitstop and identified as a result of the leader. Already in the first part of the race the McLaren # 58 Team Garage 59 (Shane Van Gisbergen, Côme Ledogar and Rob Bell) was able to break through to the fifth position ahead and start competing for 2nd place with the Ferrari # 50 Team AF Corse (Alessandro Pier Guidi, Michele Rugolo and Pasin Lathouras), who started from the front row of the grid.
However, the difference with the Bentley # 8 Maxim Sula, Andy bitches and Wolfgang Ripa was quite serious — almost 50 seconds, which in principle could hardly promise McLaren win at the steady pace of the race.
They say that as a team, «the Garage 59» noticed that during the regular yellow flags Maxim Sule is not just dropped at times, and filed a protest. As a result, the judge punished the crew Bentley pitlane drive-by, but this is not a change of leader. №8 punishment after he returned to the track still ahead of the peloton.
At the same time, after another change of pilots in the crew team Kaspersky Motorsport, in the lead all the last hours of competition, there was a technical descent. Problems with the engine on the Ferrari 488 team was not allowed to continue the race. It was doubly a shame, because in terms of pilotage for the team it was one of the best stages.
«After the race, I feel very mixed feelings — Alexander Moiseev said. — On the one hand, we as a team could not achieve, to strive for. On the other hand for those 120 laps, which we passed, it became clear that we were able to climb to a new level — how to find the car settings, and by its own piloting skills. And, of course, the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps will show what we can do really. »
It should be noted that on the track at Le Castel was just glad to see the unmistakable piloting the Russian pilot, and in conjunction with the professional skills of his co-driver Stefan Lemereta this has led to the fact that before the technical descent equal to them in the Am category at Paul Ricard and It was. Unfortunately, motor racing is a series of accidents, including those related to technical and leave them, what could make more time and within a certain time.
During the next accident under yellow flags leader Bentley # 8 calls in the race for the next planning and final pitstop to refuel and change tires. And at this moment there is unexpected: the fuel from the hose reaches the red-hot brake discs and flashing huge flames. Machine quenched very quickly, but precious seconds gone, and with the recent passing of penalty for pitlane №8 rolled back to 4th position with a difference of almost a circle to the leader, and do with it nothing can.
In the meantime, and Maclaren # 58 pulls into pitstop, and this is the fact that they, unlike the Ferrari №50, were able to hold him under yellow flags, and said in the end on the result: the first takes place in the absolute crew Shane Van Gisbergena, Coma LEDOGAR and Rob Bell.
«We did not have a Ferrari or Bentley rate — Van Gisbergen said after the finish — but it is a very competent pitstop strategy and a little luck gave us a chance to win!»
Third place on the podium went to the crew in the absolute # 3 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT R8. In ProAm category the winner was # 11 Kessel Racing Ferrari. The first place on the podium in the category Am took another Ferrari — # 888 of the same team.
