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Added spice to title fight in Misano

The Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli hosts the penultimate round of the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series.

#84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Maximilian Buhk, Vincent Abril

#84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Maximilian Buhk, Vincent Abril

Vision Sport Agency

#63 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3: Giovanni Venturini, Adrian Zaugg, Mirko Bortolotti
#84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Maximilian Buhk, Vincent Abril takes the win
#84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Maximilian Buhk, Vincent Abril
#84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Maximilian Buhk, Vincent Abril
#83 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Max van Splunteren, Jules Szymkowiak
#83 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Max van Splunteren, Jules Szymkowiak
#1 Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS: Laurens Vanthoor, Robin Frijns
#84 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Maximilian Buhk, Vincent Abril
#83 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Max van Splunteren, Jules Szymkowiak
#83 Bentley Team HTP Bentley Continental GT3: Max van Splunteren, Jules Szymkowiak
#19 GRT Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan: Andrew Palmer, Fabio Babini, Jeroen Mul

The title could be decided at the circuit near the Adriatic Sea, but the Italian fans will also rejoice in the Sprint premiere of the Lamborghini Huracàn.

By winning the previous round on the Autodromo Internacional Algarve, Laurens Vanthoor and Robin Frijns took a serious option on the drivers’ title in the 2015 Blancpain Sprint Series. The Belgian-Dutch Audi-duo now have a 26-point lead in the standings and if they can extend that advantage by a further eight points in Italy, Vanthoor and Frijns will be crowned champion with one round left to run. Their task to clinch the overall Blancpain GT Series drivers’ title is even easier, since they hold a 45-point lead in that overall classification.

Predictions hard to make

However, predictions for the races at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli are hard to make. The Italian track – which changed its racing direction in 2006 – has never featured on the calendar of an SRO-promoted Sprint Series and although an official test was organised before the start of the season, the current autumnal conditions might create a surprise or two.

For Maxi Buhk and Vincent Abril, second in the standings, it will be a case of keeping their title chances alive until the last round in Zandvoort. The Bentley drivers are able to beat Vanthoor and Frijns, and have done so during the Moscow round at the beginning of July. All other drivers still holding a – mathematical – chance on the title no longer have their fate in their own hands and must count on an off-day for the Series leaders in order to hang on to their title chances.

Lamborghini Huracàn

They might get a hand or two from a Blancpain Sprint Series newcomer: the Lamborghini Huracàn, entered by the Grasser Racing Team. The Austrian squad – winners of four races last year – make their come-back having spent most of the 2015 season in the Blancpain Endurance Series. Their two mean green machines will be driven by Mirko Bortolotti and Patrick Kujala on the one hand, and Jeroen Mul and Alberto Di Folco on the other. Both Bortolotti and Mul have completed the Endurance season with the Huracàn, while Finn Kujala and Italian Di Folco are stars of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo. The two 19-year olds are the new 2015 champion and the 2014 Pro-Am champion respectively.

Grasser Racing Team is not the only familiar names rejoining the Blancpain Sprint Series in Italy, as the Fjordbach twins are welcome returnees as well. The Danish brothers will certainly give the Dutch Bentley pairing of Szymkowiak and Van Splunteren a run for their money in the Silver Cup.

The Misano meeting will be packed to the rim with great racing, with the Trofeo Abarth, the GT4 European Series and the deciding round of the inaugural GT Sports Club season as well as three Italian single seater and prototype championships as support series. The Italian meeting, which also sees unique racing in the dark on Friday and Saturday, will be further enhanced by the presence of the magnificent automobiles of the Ultracar Sports Club.

Blancpain GT Series


 

 

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