At the fourth race weekend of the Sprint Cup of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS in Misano the team Tresor by Car Collection with the #11 car and the driver duo Simon Gachet / Christopher Haase was able to finish on the podium for the third time and thus consolidate the good championship position. The sister car with the #12, this time driven by Lorenzo Patrese, who replaced the indisposed Luca Ghiotto, and regular driver Mattia Drudi, however, experienced a stormy weekend full of ups and downs.
Saturday
On Saturday, the track action began with the morning qualifying session, which was already held in very warm conditions. Here, 16-year-old newcomer Lorenzo Patrese, who otherwise competed for the team in the Endurance Cup, was able to surprise in his first Sprint Cup outing by putting his #12 on a strong fifth starting position, ahead of his experienced teammate Simon Gachet in the sister car with the #11, who finished sixth. Gachet, however, used his experience at the start of the race and was able to maintain his position, whereas Patrese had to give up several places in the starting battle. As the race progressed, Gachet was able to hold on to the lead, while Patrese fought for positions a little further back.
The pit stop with driver change went smoothly for the #11, while a minor technical problem for the #12 cost further valuable time, which even Audi Sport driver Mattia Drudi was unable to make up completely in the end. 11th place was the final result for this car.
Further ahead, Audi Sport driver Christopher Haase, who had taken over from Simon Gachet, set off in pursuit of third place. As usual towards the end of the race with his strong lap times, he fought his way into striking distance and put the car in front under strong pressure but was unable to find a way past due to the little time remaining. Nevertheless, the duo could be satisfied with fourth place.
Sunday
On race Sunday, Christopher Haase and Mattia Drudi climbed into the cockpits for the qualifying. Haase once again proved his extra class and put the Tresor by Car Collection Audi R8 LMS evo II GT3 in a strong second place on the grid. Mattia Drudi was unable to find a completely clear lap, but still managed to qualify in a good seventh place.
After the race start, Haase in the #11 was in an unchallenged second place when he turned into the pits for the mandatory stop. Unfortunately, technical problems there cost the crew more than 10 seconds compared to the front runners, so that partner Simon Gachet only returned to the track in fourth place with a considerable gap. Gradually, he made up ground on the third-placed driver and came within striking distance again thanks to a late safety car phase. On the very last lap, he closed the gap on the car in front of him and snatched the podium spot with a strong move.
Mattia Drudi in the #12 started like hell right from the start. The Italian, who is known for his strong starts, was able to overtake two opponents on the first lap and move up to fifth place. This was also held by Lorenzo Patrese, who took over at the halfway point of the race. Until shortly before the end of the race, the #12 was in a safe fifth position when Patrese sailed through the gravel trap due to a technical defect without braking effect and hit the tire barriers hard. Fortunately and thanks to the extremely safe Audi R8 LMS evo II GT3, the young Italian remained completely uninjured, but the race was over. A small consolation was that the safety car phase triggered by this allowed Gachet in the #11 sister car to still claim the podium.
In the Sprint Cup standings, Haase/Gachet have now improved to fourth place. In the overall standings of the Fanatec Gt World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, Team Tresor by Car Collection was able to consolidate third place overall.
Copyright: SRO