An outstanding team achievement for Mercedes-AMG Motorsport in the Blancpain GT Series: in the Endurance Cup season opener at Monza, STRAKKA Racing is classified second overall with its starting number 43 and drivers Maximilian Buhk, Maximilian Götz (both GER) and Alvaro Parente (POR) while the Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON #4 with Yelmer Buurman (NED), Maro Engel and Luca Stolz (both GER) finishes in third place overall. In the Silver Cup, BLACK FALCON with Abdulaziz Al Faisal (KSA), Hubert Haupt (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) and the AKKA ASP Team with Nico Bastian (GER), Jack Manchester (GBR) and Jules Szymkowiak (NED) also score podium results with second and third place. In the AM Cup, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 was successful, too: first place for the AKKA ASP Team with drivers Fabien Barthez, Eric Debard and Philippe Giauque (all FRA).
P2 for STRAKKA Racing #43
P3 for Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON #4
Silver Cup: P2 and P3 for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #6 and #90 by BLACK FALCON and AKKA ASP
AM Cup: P1 for the Mercedes-AMG GT3 #89 by AKKA ASP
Monza – In the first race of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 were among the front-runners from the very beginning. Initially, it was Maro Engel behind the wheel of the Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON car with starting number 4 who moved up from sixth to third at the 5.793 kilometres long Autodromo Nazionale di Monza. At the end of a full-course yellow, Engel’s response was quicker than that of his rival in front of him and thus, he even claimed second place, a position that his teammate Luca Stolz had to give up again following a drive-through penalty after the driver change. In his preceding stint, Engel had been a bit too late in braking during a full-course yellow, which caused the penalty. As a result, STRAKKA RACING’s #43 Mercedes-AMG GT3 with the trio of Parente/Buhk/Götz came to the fore in the battle for the podium positions in the field of 53 cars.
Like his fellow Mercedes-AMG driver Maro Engel had done before, Buhk, who drove the second stint, also benefited from a full-course yellow to move up into second place while accelerating. After that, the Mercedes-AMG driver made up time on the leaders lap after lap and even prepared to mount a challenge for the race lead. With a strong overtaking move on the outside of the Parabolica corner, actually a disadvantage, he was able to move up into the lead. As a result, final driver Maximilian Götz took over the #43 Mercedes-AMG GT3 in first place and had to turn down the attacks from the team in second place. With some 40 minutes remaining, it came to a thrilling head-to-head duel between the two cars. Initially, the rivalling Audi had to surrender the position it had gained due to a track limit infringement, but Götz then was forced to let his rival pull away following contact under braking for the first corner. In the remainder of the race, Götz didn’t get any further opportunity to start an attempt to overtake. After 95 laps, he crossed the finish line in second place.
In spite of the drive-through penalty that had been issued to the Mercedes-AMG GT3 with Engel/Stolz/Buurman, the trio was able to make a comeback in the battle for the podium positions courtesy of a strong performance over the course of the race. Almost throughout his stint, final driver Buurman attempted to improve from fourth to third position. Six minutes prior to the end of the race, the Dutchman finally found the opportunity: under braking for the first corner, he overtook the driver in third place and then quickly pulled clear. Third place overall was the reward for a fascinating duel for the final podium slot. The #6 BLACK FALCON Mercedes-AMG GT3 (overall P10; Silver Cup P2), the #88 Mercedes-AMG Team AKKA ASP (overall P11; Pro P9), the #90 AKKA ASP (overall P12; Silver Cup P3) and the #89 AKKA ASP (overall P32; AM Cup P1) rounded out the successful weekend for Mercedes-AMG Customer Racing in Italy.
The next Blancpain GT Series round is the Sprint Cup at Brands Hatch (5-6 May), followed by the second round of the Endurance Cup at Silverstone (18-20 May).
Maximilian Buhk, STRAKKA Racing #43: “It was a very entertaining race for the fans. My overtaking move also slightly contributed to that. The Ferrari always closed the door on the inside very well whenever I attacked. Then, I simply had to try it on the outside and fortunately, that worked out. The team has done a tremendous job. We can be very happy with second place.”
Maximilian Götz, STRAKKA Racing #43: “I took over the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from Maxi in first place. After that, I lost some time in traffic, which allowed the Audi to close up. Then, we put on a thrilling duel. Initially, he overtook me outside the track limits after which I was handed back the lead. Then, I touched him under braking and had to let him go. But at the end of the day, this is a super result for STRAKKA Racing. The entire team has done an excellent job throughout the weekend. Many thanks for that!”
Maro Engel, Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON #4: “I had a super start and a great opening stint. However, unfortunately, I have to apologise to the team because I caused a drive-through penalty. The radio didn’t work and I braked too late to slow down for the full-course yellow as a result. Unfortunately, that probably cost us victory. With that in mind, an even bigger compliment to the team and my teammates for still making it up into third place.”
Yelmer Buurman, Mercedes-AMG Team BLACK FALCON #4: “Throughout my stint, it was a hard battle for third place. The Lamborghini gave all it had to turn down my attacks. At an earlier stage, I already had an opportunity to overtake, but had to abort the move due to a yellow flag. Eventually, I then got another chance and used it. I am very glad that we were still able to make it onto the podium in spite of the drive-through penalty.”
Gabriele Piana, BLACK FALCON #6: “I have to thank my teammates, they have done a super job and got me into a good position. Then I was able to take on my stint in a slightly more relaxed way and take a little less risk. I am so proud that we have scored a Silver Cup podium finish. My first Blancpain GT Series podium, and here at Monza on top of that, it doesn’t get any better.”
Fabien Barthez, AKKA ASP #89: “I am really k.o. The race was tough, it was very hot on the car. But I really enjoyed the race, the Mercedes-AMG GT3 is excellent to drive. Our focus was on making it through the race unscathed. We managed to achieve that and first place in the AM Cup is overwhelming, of course.”
