Lexus RC F GT3 1000 Kilometres Of Paul Ricard Winner – Video
Emil Frey Lexus Racing has gained a place in history books with its sensational win at the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup at Paul Ricard. Two months following the disappointing start to the season, Spaniard Albert Costa Balboa took the lead of only half a lap prior to the end, crossing the finishing line in the Lexus RC F GT3 as winner of the six-hour race at Le Castellet.
Rarely has a GT3 race in the recent past been so competitive and exciting. From a total of 51 race cars the Top-24 were running within one second and the fight for the front positions began already into the first corner. Christian Klien in the number 14 came from fourth on the grid into second place, whilst his team-mate Stéphane Ortelli in the sister car #114 had also a strong first stint, dashing from eighth place up into third in only a matter of a few laps and having a great nose-to-tail battle with the #1 Audi of Dries Vanthoor.
The #14 with Costa Balboa re-joined the race in P2 after the first pitstop with a gap of 3.7 seconds to the leader. Markus Palttala had a quiet stint in the #114 and pitted for the next stop from P5.
At nightfall, both Lexus RC F GT3 were promisingly heading for a podium. Norbert Siedler in the #114 had a strong fight with the #7 Bentley, but following a small contact had to settle in fourth position. Ortelli took over the #114 on lap 91, but also suffered contact with another car, which forced the Monegasque to come into the pits with damage on the steering. Despite outstanding teamwork of the mechanics, the fight for the lead was lost for this car. The team used the remaining hours to test and prepare for the highlight of the season, the 24-hours of Spa.
Meanwhile, Marco Seefried was running in a good fourth spot in the #14 and handed the Lexus RC F GT3 over to Costa Balboa for the last hour of the race. Once the leading #72 Ferrari suffered an engine failure and the second-placed McLaren #58 was penalised with a Drive-Through, the Emil Frey Lexus Racing Team found itself suddenly running in second place. But the fight for the lead was heating-up. Costa Balboa was only 0.8 seconds behind the leading Bentley with eight minutes to go until the chequered flag. On the very last lap, the Spaniard took the lead of the race in a great overtaking move coming into Turn 10 half a lap before the end of the race, securing an incredible first victory for the Lexus crew in the Blancpain GT Series.
Following on from the strong third place at Silverstone, the first victory was sealed in only the fifth race of the season. Emil Frey Lexus Racing is now leading the Endurance Cup team’s standings.
The next race of the Blancpain GT Series will take place with the Sprint Cup weekend in Misano (Italy) from 22 to 24 June 2018.