samedi 5 septembre 2015
BLANCPAIN GT SERIES : Bentley Boys resist Series leaders in exciting Qualifying Race
Vincent Abril and Maxi Buhk in the #84 Bentley Team HTP Continental took the win in the Qualifying Race of the Algarve round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series. Series leaders Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns briefly led the race after the pitstops, but Buhk muscled his way back into first position. Even though Frijns kept Buhk more than honest in the end, the German held on to the lead.The #6 Phoenix Racing Audi of Winkelhock and Mayr-Melnhof took their first podium finish of the season, with the #333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari and the #88 Reiter Engineering completing the top-5.
In Pro-Am a late drive-through penalty for the #70 Mercedes gave the win to the other GT Russian car, the #71 SLS of Marko Asmer and Alexey Vasilyev. Bentley took the win in the Silver Cup as well, with Dutch duo Max Van Splunteren and Jules Szymkowiak crossing the line in eighth overall.
Just before the start of the Qualifying Race some raindrops fell on the Autodromo Internacional Algarve, but not enough to warrant rain tyres. At the start, Vincent Abril in the #84 Bentley Team HTP Continental managed to grab the lead from polesitter Christopher Mies, but the German in the #2 Audi Sport Team WRT car retook first position at the exit of turn one. Mies' move was deemed in breach of the rules however, for overtaking while not respecting the track limits, and the Audi driver had to serve a drive-through.
This gave Abril a comfortable lead of over two seconds, with the Audi's of Laurens Vanthoor and Marcus Winkelhock in second and third respectively. Both Audi drivers continued a couple of laps longer in their first stint, which proved to be advantageous for the #1 Audi Sport Team WRT R8. Robin Frijns managed to come out of pitlane in front of the Bentley, now driven by Maxi Buhk, but one lap later the former Blancpain Endurance Series champion used a textbook blocking pass to retake the lead.
Although series leader Frijns did his utmost best to keep up with the Bentley in the remainder of the race, the Dutchman lost too much ground in the final corner to try and overtake Buhk. Frijns remained under the rear wing of the Bentley though, and almost pulled it off after an inspired move in the final lap. However, he could not slow the Audi down in time, and ran wide a couple of corners from the end, which meant that Buhk crossed the line in first.
Both cars had managed to create an impressive lead over the rest of the field. After the pitstop the #6 Phoenix Racing Audi of Niki Mayr-Melnhof had lost contact with the leading pair, but enjoyed a healthy advantage over two cars that started the race down the order: the #333 Rinaldi Racing Ferrari and the #88 Reiter Engineering Lamborghini, which had started from the pitlane after an engine change.
The duel between the GT Russian Mercedes in Pro-Am looked set to end in favour of Christophe Bouchut and Alexey Karachev, but a drive-through (converted to a 30 sec penalty) in the closing stages of the race gave the advantage to their team-mates Marko Asmer and Alexey Vasilyev.
Silver Cup contenders Jules Szymkowiak and Max Van Splunteren focused on moving up the order overall as well, and eventually claimed the eighth place on the starting grid of tomorrow's Main Race.
Maxi Buhk (#84 Bentley Team HTP Continental): "I expected the move from Robin Frijns. I felt he was a bit quicker and I guess he was waiting for the last lap to try something. I knew I had to defend everywhere I could to hang on to my position."
Robin Frijns (#1 Audi Sport Team WRT Audi): "I was not waiting for the last lap to try and overtake the Bentley, I was just waiting for a gap that would fit my Audi. There was an opportunity, but unfortunately there was a small contact and I punctured the left front. It was good fun, though."
Niki Mayr-Melnhof (#6 Phoenix Racing Audi): "It feels very good to be on the podium again, it's been a while. It's a shame that we lost some time in the pitstop - we had some trouble to get the car going again - but the speed of the car opens up opportunities for tomorrow's race."
Marko Asmer (#71 GT Russian Team Mercedes, 1st Pro-Am Cup): "It's unfortunate what happened to our team-mates, but the same thing happened to us in Moscow. The rules are the same for everyone, and if they are policed correctly, I have no problem with that. Now we should try and improve our set-up for tomorrow, so we can try and get a top-10 finish overall."
Jules Szymkowiak (#83 Bentley Team HTP Continental, 1st Silver Cup): "I am not really happy with my personal performances this weekend. Vincent and Maxi show that this car has a lot of potential. I am still adapting to the circuit and there is still some room for improvement. Maybe in tomorrow's race."
Meet the owners at the 2015 Concours of Elegance
An event such as the Tour of Elegance, which culminates in the Royal Concours that begins today, is as much about socialising with like-minded enthusiasts as it is about the driving. Classic Driver met some of the prominent personalities and, of course, their very special cars…
HRH Prince Michael of Kent and the Bentley 4¼ Litre
His Royal Highness Prince Michael not only lends his name to the patronage of the event, but is also actively involved in its organisation and took part in the tour – followed everywhere by two Q-cars full of Royal Protection Officers, of course. Fittingly, he completed the tour in one of the concours cars, a 1937 Bentley 4¼ Litre Vanden Plas Tourer owned by Paul Wood, the co-founder of renowned marque specialist P&A Wood. “I find it quite interesting that while Mr Wood is one of the leading Bentley restorers in the world,” His Royal Highness told Classic Driver, “he’s left his own car in the most wonderfully original condition.”
Clive Beecham and his long-nose Jaguar D-type
We first met Clive Beecham when shooting his ex-Agnelli Ferrari 166 MM earlier this year. He’s brought something equally special (and fitting) to the Edinburgh Concours: a long-nose Jaguar D-type with Works and Ecurie Ecosse provenance (if you look in the right places, you’ll be able to see the original green paint beneath the Ecosse blue). This car placed second at the famous clean-sweep at Le Mans in 1957, and is probably the most original example of the eight remaining Long-Nose factory team cars.
Tom Hartley Jnr. and his Lamborghini Miura S
As a renowned dealer, Tom Hartley Jnr. can often be seen at the major events in something special – but none are more beloved to him than his personal (hence the numberplate) 1970 Miura S. It has just 14,000 miles or so from new (a few hundred more were spiritedly added during the pre-Concours tour), and the car’s original orange paintwork is as vibrant as ever, even 45 years on. This magnificent Miura will certainly be one of the crowd favourites…
The Schäfer family and their 1930 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Tourer
Back after winning the ‘Most Elegant Lady Driver’ award at Hampton Court last year, Sonja Schäfer and her family have travelled to the Edinburgh Concours from Germany, this time bringing along the 1930 Mercedes-Benz 710 SS Tourer Sonja co-owns with her two sisters. The car’s former owners include a Paris Match director and a Nobel Prize winner – and its appearance at the Holyrood Concours of Elegance comes 50 years after it was first shown at Pebble Beach.
Jon Shirley and his Ferrari 275 GTS/4 N.A.R.T. Spyder
As one of the most respected collectors in the world, Jon Shirley is no stranger to the Concours circuit; he won Best in Show at the 2014 Pebble Beach Concours with his Ferrari 375 MM. This year, he’s brought another of his prized Ferraris to Edinburgh: one of the two alloy-bodied 275 GTS/4 N.A.R.T. Spyders ever built. The ex-Microsoft president has owned the car for more than 20 years (how about that for an appreciating asset…), proving that he’s earned his stripes as a genuine enthusiast as well an astute businessman.
Gregor Fisken and his prototype Jaguar E-type Lightweight
Entering two cars into the Holyrood concours, Gregor Fisken is certainly embracing his Scottish roots. Alongside a Bentley S1 Continental Drophead, he has also taken along the prototype Jaguar E-type Lightweight that Briggs Cunningham (another Scotsman) campaigned to victory at the 1962 Sebring 12 Hours. “Before this, the car hasn’t turned a wheel for more that 20 years,” Gregor told us during the pre-concours tour, “but she runs like a dream.”
Stephen Brauer and his short-chassis Aston Martin DB6 Volante
Wine importer Stephen Brauer clearly has great taste, proved by the exquisite short-chassis DB6 Volante (one of 37) he and his wife Camilla have brought over from Missourri. It’s by no means the car’s first top-level competition: it has also completed several Copperstate Rallies and Louis Vuitton tours. “It’s the ideal car in which to compete in a rally or tour. Although it has a solid rear axle, it’s probably the nicest to drive of all my cars.”
Jeff Pope and his father’s Maserati A6G 2000 Zagato
This rare Maserati (one of only 21 A6s given Zagato coachwork) was chaperoned from Arizona by Jeff Pope – son of noted collector Bill Pope – and is the only example with period U.S. racing history. As beautiful as it is (it previously won Best in Class at Pebble Beach), it’s still used as intended, evidenced by Jeff’s spirited driving on the tour.
Photos: Tom Shaxson for Classic Driver © 2015
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