Team MZR sweeps Fanatec GT2 weekend at Hockenheim as Akkodis ASP score Am success

A lights-to-flag performance from the head on the field made sure the #812 KTM X-BOW GT2 crew of Kofler and Koch completed a double in Germany, further extending their lead at the top of the Pro-Am class standings. Vannelet and Beaubelique (#87 Mercedes-AMG) celebrated both Iron Cup and Am class success after a spirited charge from the back row of the grid.

With pole-sitters Pierre Kaffer and Michael Doppelmayr (LP Racing, Audi R8 LMS GT2) missing due to a mechanical issue, it gave Kofler the chance to break away after fending off Benjamin Ricci in the Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG GT2.

Once the KTM man found breathing space on lap two, he extended the lead cushion to over seven seconds by the time he handed over to Koch, and the Austrian made no mistake to bring home win number four of their season despite a late safety car interruption.

He left behind him a fierce battle for second place, which was won by the #80 Razoon - More Than Racing KTM after Thomas Andersen and Simon Birch surged forward from ninth on the grid. Andersen dived inside the #61 of Mauro Ricci at the second corner on the restart with just five minutes remaining to finish five seconds behind Pro-Am rivals Team MZR.

Another fine recovery drive came from Vannelet and Beaubelique, the French duo rising from 12th to not only finish third overall but also claim their third Am class success of the campaign. Vannelet dispatched the #88 LP Racing entry of Stéphane Ratel and Stefan Rosina in the closing laps, but the Audi was still able to take its best result of the season in fourth overall, completing the Pro-Am top three in the process.

Staying out of trouble proved wise for the Am pairing of Pascal Gibon and Christophe Bourret (Akkodis ASP, Mercedes-AMG), who rounded out the top five outright finishers. Just behind in sixth, Philippe Prette survived an early trip to the pits to earn a place on the Am class podium in the #2 LP Racing Maserati.

The Italian team’s sister Maserati endured a difficult day at Hockenheim but recovered to seventh place after Carlo Tamburini and Leonardo Gorini started from the pit lane in the #1 machine.

Sehdi Sarmini and Klaus Angerhofer rose from 11th on the grid to finish eighth, fourth in Am, while both Alexandre Leroy (TFT Racing, Maserati) and Mauro Ricci both recovered from spins to complete the overall top 10. Leroy came together with the #888 NM Racing entry of Stéphane Perrin and Jörg Viebahn at the final corner, denying the Mercedes-AMG duo a chance of their best Am class result of the year.

With four of six rounds now complete, the Fanatec GT2 European Series Powered by Pirelli heads into the summer break before resuming at Monza across the weekend of 20-22 September.

Results are HERE