With just two races and a maximum of 52 points still available the battle to become the inaugural Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup Champions is wide open as the competitors will take on the challenge of the 7km Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
In the drivers’ championship Aleksey Basov and Victor Shaitar currently enjoy a 10 point lead after securing victory at the Road to Le Mans, at the Red Bull Ring and last time out at Le Castellet, also taking the extra point for pole position in the last two races.
The Russian pairing, who are currently on 77 points, seem to be unstoppable but will face a tough challenge in Belgium from the no34 TF Sport Aston Martin pair of Euan Hankey and Salih Yoluc, the Silverstone race winners having finished on the podium in the last two races and have gathered 67 championship points in the process.
Norway’s Egidio Perfetti in the no88 Mentos Racing is currently lying in third place on 52 points after finishing second in Austria and France and will be joined once again by Klaus Bachler in the cockpit duties. Also expect the no55 FFF Racing McLaren of Adrian Quaife-Hobbs and Hiroshi Hamaguchi to figure in the challenge for the podium in Belgium.
The driver’s title can only be decided if Basov and Shaitar are 26 points ahead of their nearest rivals on Saturday evening, otherwise the destination of the inaugural Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup crown will be decided in Portugal.
In the Teams’ Championship TF Sport hold a 15 point advantage over the 72 SMP Racing Ferrari, with the British team currently on 67 points over the SMP Racing Ferraris 52 points. The reason for the difference between the driver and team title is the fact that Basov and Shaitar ran in the no57 AF Corse Ferrari at Le Mans and only competed in the no72 SMP Racing Ferrari at the Red Bull Ring and Le Castellet. The no88 Mentos Racing Porsche is equal on points with the Russian SMP Racing team but are classed as third thanks to the no72 cars’ two wins.
If the TF Sport Aston Martin can finish on the top step of the podium and both the no72 Ferrari and no88 Porsche fail to finish on the podium the 2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup title will go to TF Sport, otherwise the title, like the drivers’ crown, will be decided in Portugal next month.
Round 5 of the 2016 Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup will take place at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday 24 September, with the green flag being waved at 17h30 CET to start the 2-hour race. For more information, and to watch the race live, visit www.gt3lemanscup.com
