Datum: 10.10.2018 · Sonstige

Difficult Blancpain final in Barcelona

At the final of the Blancpain Endurance Cup in Barcelona the Rinaldi Racing trio Pierre Ehret, Rick Yoon and Rory Penttinen finished 6th in the AM class. Thus the Ferrari drivers remained behind their expectations for the final to at least secure the runner-up title in the class. With 75 points, Ehret and Yoon secured at least 4th place in the Blancpain Endurance Amateur Drivers' Championship 2018.

The crew started its race from 5th place in the class and 46th overall in the 52 car strong field. Rick Yoon contested the first stint, with Pierre Ehret's Asian team-mate having a hard time with the track and traffic on his Barcelona debut. Pierre Ehret took over the Ferrari with a lap deficit and could at least keep a constant gap to the competition . After the handover to Rory Penttinen the hopes for a further improvement of the position were unfortunately not fulfilled. The fast Finn was pushed into the gravel by a competitor in the Seat hairpin during his race to catch up. In addition, numerous safety car phases in the turbulent final prevented a further improvement in position.

Pierre Ehret: "The safety cars brought the field together again and again in the final phase. This made it impossible even for Rory to make up for the lost laps. The fact that one of the Bentley Boys bugged him into the gravel half an hour before the end was not helpful either. Too bad, because after this season another podium result would have reconciled us. Fourth place in the championship is fine under these circumstances".