Multiple Podiums and Celebrations for Kessel Racing at Double-Header Race Weekend
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Kessel Racing had a busy weekend with a double-header: The European Le Mans Series had its third round at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, whilst the Ferrari Challenge Europe was racing at Portimâo. The team secured a strong fourth place with the #57 Ferrari 296 GT3 in Italy in LMGT3, with the squad in Portugal going on to secure a total of one race victory, two second places and one third place on the podium – an altogether very successful weekend for the team from Switzerland.
European Le Mans Series – Imola, Italy
After setting the fourth best laptime in qualifying, Takeshi Kimura started the race behind the wheel of the #57 Ferrari 296 GT3, getting a clean get-off in all the turbulences around him after two formation laps.
The second driver in the car was Esteban Masson, who had a great battle for third position with the #63 Lamborghini from lap 59 onwards, making one of the overtaking moves of the weekend by going around on the outside in Turn 9 to take third place.
Daniel Serra was the last driver in the car and the heat was on for the remaining race. The first five cars in LMGT3 were running within ten seconds. The Brazilian driver was on new rubbers and catching the front runners by two seconds per lap.
At the chequered flag, Daniel Serra had not only set the fastest lap of LMGT3, but also crossed the finishing line initially in third place, however the team was later given a penalty of 45 seconds for overtaking under double-yellow. The fourth place still marked the best result of the season to date.
Ferrari Challenge Europe – Portimâo, Portugal
The first COPPA SHELL race went underway after a long delay due to a red flag, and Henry Hassid, starting from second on the grid, had a great fight with Manuela Gostner in the #173 Ferrari. After the 30-minute race, Henry Hassid went on to secure a podium finish with second place, also setting the fastest lap of the race, whilst Fons Scheltema crossed the finishing line in P7.
For the second race, Henry Hassid missed Pole Position by a fraction of just 0.001 seconds, starting from P2 with team-mate Fons Scheltema in P10 on the grid. Just like the day before, Henry Hassid finished the race in second place on the podium . Due to two contacts that occurred on the last two laps, Fons Scheltema had to retire from the race before the final lap.
Jan Sandmann put in his best qualifying performance of the season by qualifying third for the first COPPA SHELL AM race, only to went on to secure his first-ever podium with P3. His team-mate Stephen Earle finished the race on Saturday in 11th place.
The Rookie took his momentum into Sunday, qualifying in Pole Position and bringing home an impressive start-to-finish win in the second race. Stephen Earle made up some good ground and finished in eighth place coming from tenth on the grid.
Kessel Racing will be back on track from 26th until 28th July, heading into yet another double-header race weekend with the Ferrari Challenge racing at Paul Ricard and the GT World Challenge at Nürburgring.