Belgian Audi Club Team WRT drivers Stephane Ortelli, Christopher Haase and Christopher Mies have been officially confirmed as the 2012 Blancpain Endurance Series drivers champions. The confirmation comes after a series of protests from their title rivals Marc VDS Racing Team were finally dismissed by the International Court of Appeal last week.
An alleged pit lane offence was reported at the final round in Navarra last October was subsequently rejected by the Stewards of the meeting. Marc VDS Racing Team then pursued their claim to the Spanish ASN which also dismissed the claim by an appeal court, in Madrid, last December. A further protest was then lodged with the International Court of Appeal in an attempt to overrule the initial decision. Even if a pit late infringement was confirmed and the team fined €10,000, the court of appeal did not consider the matter serious enough to deprive the WRT drivers from their hardly fought Blancpain Endurance Series victory.
Belgian Audi Club Team WRT took the teams title on the track at Navarra by finishing in 2nd place which was
enough to take the title by 5 points in the teams standings. The confirmation of Orelli, Mies and Haase taking the drivers means they won the title by 3 points from the Marc VDS Racing Team drivers of Bas Leinders, Maxime Martin and Markus Palttala.
The 2012 title battle was one of the closest and most keenly fought in recent years and was conducted in a sporting and fair manner by two ultra-professional and competitive teams throughout an exciting season of racing.
Both Belgian Audi Club Team WRT and Marc VDS Racing Team have committed to the 2013 Blancpain Endurance Series.