The opener of the much awaited Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup 2017 is approaching fast. I.S.R. racing will make it to the start of the first round of the season that will take place this coming weekend at the Autodromo Nazionale of Monza, fielding the number 75 Audi R8 LMS for the PRO lineup made by Filip Salaquarda (CZ), Frank Stippler (GER) and Clemens Schmid (AUT).
Filip Salaquarda, class 1984, has acquired a lot of experience in this championship and has five participations to this championship behind his back now. He scored important results with GT class cars, but also on open wheelers with which he has been shining early on in his career.
Frank Stippler is one of the most successful Audi Factory Driver born in 1975. He is also one of the most experienced driver on the Ingolstadt’s cars, been competing on the Audi’s cars since 2004. Last year he won the VLN Endurance Championship on the Audi R8 LMS, repeating the victory scored in 2014. His long career features two victories of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2011 and 2012, but also a second place at the Fia GT Series 2013 and the triumphs in the Porsche Carrera Cup Germany and in the Porsche Michelin Supercup 2003.
Clemens Schmid, class 1990, is at his first season with I.S.R. racing and with Audi, but he already took part in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup of 2015 and 2016. He displayed his great potential in the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East taking two victories in 2013 and 2015, coming also second in 2014 and 2012. Schmid has a second place at the 24 Hours of Dubai 2015 under his belt too.
The race of Monza announces to be spectacular with more than fifty cars at the start. The weekend will kick off on Friday April 21st with Bronze Tests from 16:25 (GMT +2). A double free practice session will follow on Saturday April 22nd at 10:45 and pre-qualifying at 16:05. Qualifying will take place on April 23rd at local 9:50, while the three hours long race will get green lights at 14:45.
Motorsport TV will follow the event live in Europe, while Eurosport will air highlights on Tuesday April 25th. The live streaming of the race with British or French commentary will be available at www.blancpain-gt-series.com.
Igor Salaquarda (I.S.R. racing, Team Principal):
“The opener of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup is always a very exciting event and I am very happy of taking on this new challenge with three drivers that showed their value and determination in the past. Frank, Filip and Clemens will share driving duties on the same car for the first time, but I am certain that they will quickly find the right feeling to play the role of protagonists. This is going to be our third full year in this championship, we know well all the rounds therefore we will work step by step to run a very strong season”.
