Consani & Lariche crowned Kings at the 'Ring as David & Duran score first win

While much of the attention focused on the title battle down the order, Hadrien David and Jan Duran arguably stole the show by scoring their maiden GT4 Europe victory with a controlled drive aboard the #87 Matmut Évolution Toyota GR Supra.

The momentum also swung in both the Pro-Am and Am points, with each class now featuring a new leader after perfect weekends for both Mirage Racing and W&S Motorsport. Stanislav Safronov and Aleksandr Vaintrub assumed the Pro-am lead after a second win, while Max Kronberg and Daniel Blickle did likewise to lead Am.

SILVER: TOYOTA TAKES THE WIN, AUDI GETS THE CROWN

Consani and Lariche endured a nail-biting race, with the confirmation of the Silver title wavering with every position gained or lost by the #3 Team Speedcar Audi. But while they were made to sweat, David and Duran barely broke one as they secured an impressive lights-to-flag victory to record their first GT4 Europe win.

David had qualified the #87 Supra on pole and got a good start to lead the pack down to Turn 1, with Gabriele Piana applying the pressure as best he could in the #12 Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport BMW. Desperate to keep the title fight alive, Piana knew he needed to finish on the podium at least, and hope for drama for the #3.

Piana was all over David early on, until the Toyota found its rhythm and began to edge clear, enjoying a lead of around two seconds by the time David pitted for Duran. A clean swap from Matmut Évolution got Duran back out in front of Berkay Besler, who had relayed Piana. Duran soaked up some early pressure to hold Besler off, and then survived a safety car restart to tour clear as the BMW came under attack from Erik Evans’ Academy Motorsport Mustang behind. Besler would hold on to second, leaving all eyes on Lariche.

Consani largely stayed out of trouble to bring the points-leading Audi into the pits in eighth, a potential title-winning spot. Lariche took over and found himself in a high-pressure fight with both the Team Floral Mustang and L’Espace Bienvenue BMW. After initially dropping back to ninth, Lariche regrouped to pass the Mustang and bring the car, and the title, home to Team Speedcar in eighth. The result gave Consani and Lariche a 52-point lead heading to Barcelona, meaning they are unbeatable courtesy of having recorded more wins than anybody.

PRO-AM: PERFECTION PUTS MIRAGE IN CONTROL

Safronov and Vaintrub showed no sign of losing their current momentum as they scored a fourth consecutive win for the #7 Mirage Racing Aston Martin Vantage, even if they left it late.

Although Alberto Naska started on class pole in the PB Racing Lotus, it was the Matmut Évolution Toyota Supra of Cindy Gudet that made a rocket start to lead from Vaintrub and Naska. Gudet stayed out front until the pit window when she dived in to hand to Gabriela Jilkova, with the #99 Toyota rejoining just a few lengths ahead of Safronov.

An outright pole-sitter on Saturday, Safronov’s pace was unquestionable, but it still took him until the final laps to find a way through Jilkova’s determined defence to take the win. The pair finished ahead of the JSB Porsche of Nicco Ferrarin and Viny Beltramelli, while a late technical issue put the Lotus out. Former points pace-setters Joachim Bölting and Hendrik Still struggled to fourth in their W&S Porsche, meaning they now trail Safronov and Vaintrub in the standings.

AM: W&S DOMINANT AT HOME

Blickle and Kronberg completed a flawless weekend by claiming a clear Am class win, and with it an enhanced points lead. Having drawn level with their title rivals on Saturday, the local drivers put in another superb performance to seize the points advantage heading to Barcelona.

Blickle started the #30 W&S Porsche from pole and led throughout the first half, handing to Kronberg who stroked the car home five places overall clear of Hans Holmlund, who recorded a second runner-up spot in his Toyota Gazoo Racing Sweden Supra. Romain Vozniak and Maximilien Huber made it two third places in their AV Racing Porsche, as former points leaders Antoni de Barn and Jean-Mathieu Leandri fought to fourth after a pit penalty.

The GT4 European Series powered by RAFA Racing Club season finale takes place at Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya over the weekend of October 10-12.

Results are HERE