Audi victory in the rain-soaked chaos of Barcelona – Lionspeed GP on the verge of winning the title

From 14th on the grid to victory! Dylan Pereira and Alex Aka won the one-hour Sprint Cup race and celebrated their first overall victory in the top-flight GT series in the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi.

Second place went to Bastian Buus and Ricardo Feller in the Lionspeed GP Porsche 911 GT3 R, meaning the two drivers have secured the GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup title ahead of schedule. Mathematically, the title is now out of reach for the two Porsche works drivers; however, the RACB Court of Appeal may still alter the championship outcome following WINWARD Racing’s appeal against their disqualification at Misano.

Third place went to Luca Engstler and Patric Niederhauser in the Rutronik Racing Lamborghini Temerario GT3, meaning the team from Remchingen

Heavy rain set in at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya during the formation lap, turning the track into a slippery mess. For this reason, race director Niels Wittich ordered two formation laps.

On the third lap, Kiern Jewiss and Dennis Marschall collided whilst battling for the lead; both were able to continue, although the rear bumper came loose on the 2Seas Motorsport Mercedes-AMG GT3.

After 15 minutes, the safety car was deployed. Thomas Neubauer, third in the championship, spun whilst accelerating out of Turn 10 and was subsequently hit by Ariel Levi in the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi. Dani Juncadella also had to swerve onto the grass whilst trying to avoid the incident.

During the pit stop window, an accident occurred in the pit lane when Konsta Lappalainen in the Emil Frey Racing Ferrari was struck by Dorian Boccolacci in the Boutsen VDS Ferrari. The Ferrari was spun round and retired with a broken suspension. Shortly before the end of the race, Boccolacci received a stop-and-go penalty for the incident.

Championship leader Ricardo Feller skidded off the track in the disastrous conditions following his pit stop and lost further time, after lead driver Bastian Buus had already lost a lot of time during the opening stint.

After 31 minutes, Loris Cabirou in the Dinamic GT Porsche went off at Turn 3 and became stuck in the gravel trap. Race director Niels Wittich decided to red-flag the race. During the red flag period, teams that had not yet entered the pits were allowed to carry out their driver and tyre changes without losing any time. This decision by race control raised many eyebrows throughout the paddock, as it put the Pro cars at a massive disadvantage.

Around ten minutes before the end of the race, the race was neutralised once again after Maxime Robin, in the Walkenhorst Motorsport Aston Martin, skidded off the track and made light contact with the barrier.

Three minutes before the end of the race, Chris Lulham in the Mercedes-AMG Team Verstappen Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 spun off the track but was able to continue. As a result, the car dropped out of the points, meaning they lost their mathematical chance of winning the championship.

GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup Barcelona Race 1 results (Top 10):

1. Dylan Pereira/Alex Aka – Tresor Attempto Racing – Audi R8 LMS GT3

2. Bastian Buus/Ricardo Feller – Lionspeed GP – Porsche 911 GT3 R

3. Patric Niederhauser/Luca Engstler – Rutronik Racing – Lamborghini Temerario GT3

4. Joseph Loake/Dean MacDonald – Garage 59 – McLaren 720S GT3

5. Eddie Cheever/Joseph Loake – Ziggo Sport Tempesta Racing – Porsche 911 GT3 R

6. Sven Müller/Dorian Boccolacci – Boutsen VDS – Porsche 911 GT3 R

7. Lucas Auer/Maro Engel – WINWARD Racing – Mercedes-AMG GT3

8. Jop Rappange/David Pittard – KPX Racing – BMW M4 GT3

9. Dennis Marschall/Constantin Dressler – Kessel Racing – Ferrari 296 GT3

10. Charles Weerts/Kelvin van der Linde – WRT – BMW M4 GT3