Second race, second win: BMW Z4 GT3 makes its mark on the Blancpain Endurance series.
Munich, 3rd June 2012. Marc VDS Racing remains the team to beat in the Blancpain Endurance Series: in race two of the season in the fiercely competitive championship, Markus Palttala (FI), Bas Leinders (BE) and Maxime Martin (BE) crossed the line in first place at the “Silverstone Circuit” (GB). After three hours and 73 laps, their number 3 BMW Z4 GT3 had a 54.792-second lead over the second-placed Audi. This was the second victory this year for the Belgian team, following its triumph at the season-opener in Monza (IT).
Despite the difficult wet weather conditions throughout the race, the DB Motorsport team also enjoyed a successful Sunday, with drivers Stephane Lemeret (BE), Jeffrey van Hooydonck (NL) and Jeroen den Boer (NL) guiding the number 36 BMW Z4 GT3 home in fifth. The BMW Z4 GT3 belonging to the Vita4One Racing Team, which started from pole position, also finished in the top ten in ninth place.
Leinders, Team Principal and driver for Marc VDS Racing, said: ““We had a good start with Markus Palttala in the car. It was in the rain again for the second race of the series and our BMW Z4 GT3 was going very well. For this first stint we were always in the top five. Then we came in for our first pit stop, which was a very good one so we gained several places. I took over and caught up with the BMW of Vita4One and then had a scrap with an Audi for the lead. We came in very close together but we did a better stop so got in front. It was then up to Maxime Martin to bring the car home and he was able to cruise to victory a minute ahead of them. Thanks again to BMW for the great cooperation.”
After opening the season with two victories, Palttala, Leinders and Martin now head to the third race in the series – on 1st July 2012 at the “Circuit Paul Ricard” near Le Castellet (FR) – full of confidence.
BMW drivers also tasted success on Sunday in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC): Norbert Michelisz (HU), at the wheel of a BMW 320 TC, finished fourth overall in race one in Portimão (PT) and won the Independents’ Trophy. In race two, Tom Coronel (NL) returned to the WTCC podium, having crossed the finish line third. In the overall standings, Coronel remains in fourth place behind the three leading Chevrolet drivers.