With five races of the 2022 Michelin Le Mans Cup season completed, and with just over one month before the next race at Spa-Francorchamps at the end of September, we will take a look back at the season so far in GT3.
PODIUM FINISHES
Six of the seven full season entered cars have finished in a podium position in the first five races of the 2022 season run so far.
The championship leading no55 GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3 of Kasper Jensen and Kristian Poulsen has finished on the podium four times so far this season, including two wins at Le Castellet and Road to Le Mans.
The no88 GMB Motorsport Honda has just one podium finish but this a win at Monza last time out.The no99 Bullitt Racing Aston Martin Vantage and the no46 Ebimotors Porsche both have three podium finishes from five starts with the Aston Martin taking two second places at Imola and Road to Le Mans (Race 2) and a third at Monza, while the Porsche took victory in Race 1 at Le Mans and two third place finishes at Imola and in Road to Le Mans (Race 2).
The no44 GMB Motorsport Honda won the 110-minute race at Imola in May after taking second place at Le Castellet.The no61 AF Corse Ferrari is the sixth car to finish in a podium position, taking third place at Le Castellet.
POLE POSITIONS
Three different drivers have scored a pole position in 2022.Emanuele Busnelli put the no46 Ebimotors Porsche 911 GT3 R at the head of the grid in his home races at Imola and Monza.Jens Moller has also secured two pole positions in the no44 GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3, the first at Le Castellet and the second for the second 55-minute Road to Le Mans race.
Gold rated driver Valentin Haase-Clot put the no99 Bullitt Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 on pole for the first Road to Le Mans race.
FASTEST LAPS
The fastest laps in the five races have been set by three drivers in just two of the cars entered in the championship.
Mikkel Pedersen set the fastest lap at Le Castellet and in the first Road to Le Mans race in the no88 GMB Motorsport Honda NSX GT3.The no99 Bullitt Racing Aston Martin Vantage GT3 set the fastest lap in the other three races held so far this season.
Theo Nouet set a new MLMC GT3 lap record at Imola in May with a 1m43.069 ((171.5 kph) lap around the Italian circuit.Valentin Haase-Clot posted the fastest lap times during the races at Le Mans (Race 2) and Monza.
RACE DISTANCES
Race 1: Le Castellet (5.773km) – 1 hour 50 minutes
Race 2: Imola (4.909km) – 1 hour 50 minutes
Race 3: Road to Le Mans 1 (13.626km) – 55 minutes
Race 4: Road to Le Mans 2 (13.626km) – 55 minutes
Race 5: Monza (5.793km) - 1 hour 50 minutes
The total distance covered by all competitors during the first five races of the 2022 Michelin Le Mans Cup is 8,187.66 km
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS
The no55 GMB Motorsport Honda NSX is currently holding a 17-point advantage at the top of the table with 77 points, with the no99 Bullitt Racing Aston Martin Vantage in second on 60 and the no88 GMB Motorsport Honda NSX and no46 Ebimotors Porsche 911 tied on 57 points in third and fourth respectively.
CLICK HERE to see the championship positions after Race 5 of the 2022 Michelin Le Mans Cup.
The next round of the series will be at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday 24 September.
