The difference between an old school track and a hypermodern 21st century facility? Some say it’s the history that hangs in the air. Some say it’s the layout of the circuit. Some say it’s the tunnel you use to access the paddock. All we know is that the Autodromo Nazionale Monza has it all.
Its location in the Parco di Monza makes the Italian temple of speed unique, and the ideal circuit to start the season, especially in early spring. Every single driver, mechanic, engineer, and race official of the Blancpain Endurance Series is looking forward to get to Monza. A look at the entry list will explain why this is certainly the case in 2015.
No fewer than 24 cars are entered in the Pro Cup. Familiar faces, old hands, proven machinery, exciting new cars, the top class of the Blancpain Endurance Series is stronger than ever. The Blancpain Endurance Series now has a healthy amount of prize money awarded at each round – 100.000 euro distributed over the three classes with 60.000 reserved for the Pro Cup – so that will be an added motivation to perform well.
With Belgian Audi Club Team WRT, Phoenix Racing, Sainteloc Racing and newcomer ISR the Audi armada is the most impressive, especially since two of the seven R8 are the new version of the car with which Team WRT claimed last year’s drivers and teams titles. The Belgian squad will enter one of the new R8 – with Ortelli, Stippler and Nico Müller – while 2012 drivers champions Haase and Mies will share the new Phoenix car with former DTM-champion Mike Rockenfeller.
The new R8 is not the only new car on the grid. The new Lamborghini Huracan, two of which are being entered by GRT Grasser Racing Team, and the new McLaren 650S of Attempto Racing and Von Ryan Racing will attract at least as much attention. Both the Lamborghini and the McLaren will have some factory drivers at the wheel – the two Von Ryan trios are nothing but – so expect them both to be competitive.
That does not mean that the competition will have to settle for a secondary role. The Bentley Continental GT3 was already a race winner in its maiden season last year, and with the driver line-ups now even stronger – former driver champion Maxi Buhk has joined Bentley M-Sport – the Continental should always be considered for at least a podium finish.
The same goes for the Aston Martin Vantage and the BMW Z4. Although Oman Racing and BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil are the sole Pro Cup representatives of those two brands, expect them to put pressure on the teams using newer machinery. And keep an eye out for one of the BMW drivers: even though newcomer Atila Abreu has almost exclusively raced in his native Brasil recently, he has spent some seasons in European racing before. He even has a runner-up spot in Formula BMW under his belt, beaten only by a certain German driver named Vettel.
Other teams have also put their faith in cars they know through and through, like the Mercedes SLS AMG (Black Falcon and Series newcomer Rowe Racing) or the Ferrari 458 Italia (Rinaldi Racing).
Just like several other of the Pro Cup teams, Series returnee MRS GT-Racing is competing in all twelve rounds of the Blancpain GT Series, meaning that the week before the Monza round they will be racing at the Sprint Series opener in Nogaro. That results in a pretty hectic preparation for Monza, but the German squad – switching to a Nissan GT-R Nismo – is determined to start the endurance season with a good result, especially with former LMP2 Le Mans-winner Martin Plowman in their ranks. A lot is expected from their Nissan colleagues of the GT Academy Team RJN as well, especially since two of their drivers – Wolfgang Reip and Katsumasa Chiyo – were victorious in the Bathurst 12 hour earlier this year.
The ‘gamer squad’ is still present in the Pro-Am Cup as well, with a car reserved for three former winners of the GT Academy. With 22 cars entered in the Pro-Am Cup, the fight for the class win – and the accompanying cheque of 20.000 euro – should result in some exciting racing. As the tradition goes, the Ferrari 458 Italia is the weapon of choice in the Pro-Am Cup: no fewer than seven teams enter a total of nine prancing horses. With four cars each, Mercedes and BMW are well represented as well, with Aston Martin, Audi, Jaguar, McLaren (the new 650S) and the aforementioned Nissan completing the grid.
Some squads have some pretty good Pro drivers in their line-up: with two Platinum and eight Gold drivers at the wheel, some of the Pro-Am cars might create a surprise during qualifying, getting among the Pro Cup cars at the sharp end of the grid. Especially the Mercedes teams seem to be determined to upset the order, because both Platinum drivers are driving an SLS AMG: Maro Engel (Black Falcon) and Marko Asmer (GT Russian Team). And the only reason why the latter’s team-mate Bernd Schneider is no longer in the highest driver category, is because the double winner of the Total 24 Hours of Spa turned 50 last year. Not sure that will slow him down much, though.
The renamed Am Cup – formerly known as Gentlemen Trophy – is still the backbone of the Blancpain Endurance Series. Gentlemen drivers and young up-and-coming talents will try to shine. With 14 cars in the Am Cup, the fight for the class win promises to be intense as well, although there is a fifty-fifty chance that the winner will drive a Ferrari. The Italian tifosi will indeed have a lot to cheer about, since half of the teams field a 458 Italia, bringing the total number of Ferraris in this opening round of the Blancpain Endurance Series to 17. However, do not underestimate the chances of the Audi, BMW or Mercedes squads. The brand with the star is now represented by Car Collection Motorsport, and has Pierre Ehret and Alexander Matschull at the wheel, winners of three Blancpain Endurance Series rounds last year. Their former team-mate Frank Schmickler has switched to the Porsche of Attempto Racing this year, making them an outsider for a podium finish as well. The two Porsche in Am Cup – Belgian Delahaye Racing Team also enters a 997 GT3R – bring the total number of different manufacturers represented to eleven.
With everything ready to start the 2015 Blancpain Endurance Series, the Monza round should set the tone for an exciting new season, in all three classes of the series. Who will come out victorious in this first confrontation? Come and join us and see for yourself!
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Link to Entry list :
Pro
Pro AM and AM
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Weekend Schedule
Saturday 11 April
09:00 - 10:00 Bronze Test
12:05 - 13:35 Free Practice
16:10 - 17:40 Pre-Qualifying Session
Sunday 12 April
09:00 - 10:00 Qualifying Session
14:30 - 17:30 Main Race
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Livetiming & livestreaming : www.blancpain-gt-series/GT TV/live
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More information
Press Images & Results : www.blancpain-GT-series/pressmembers
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BlancpainGT
Facebook : Blancpain GT Series
Instagram : Blancpain GT Series
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Blancpain - Innovation is our Tradition
Founded in 1735 by Jehan-Jacques Blancpain, the watch brand bearing his name is the oldest in the world. Blancpain is currently engaged to the renewal of mechanical watchmaking and to passing on exceptional expertise from one generation to the next through constant investment in human resources, production facilities and research. This approach is its strength and the expression of our long-term vision, even though it goes against the tide of a certain tendency to seek immediate profit. From the creation of components through to watch design, Blancpain is distinguished by its ability to develop exceptional movements. Over the past ten years, the Manufacture has indeed developed no less than 35 new calibres.
Through its various models, Blancpain preserves its heritage of precision and elegance, while also displaying an innovative and occasionally provocative spirit. Its range encompasses the sportive L-evolution line, the legendary Fifty Fathoms diver’s watch, as well as the classic Villeret collection, the high complication from Le Brassus collection and the Women models.
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Pirelli – Official Tyre Supplier
Pirelli is a tyre manufacturer and world leader in the automotive industry. It has an exclusive relationship with over 50 racing series worldwide, including Formula One.
Pirelli has a long and illustrious history in endurance racing, and has also claimed a huge variety of class wins in GT racing all over the world. The design of the new Pirelli GT tyres meets the needs of GT racing while maintaining the performance characteristics that endurance drivers have appreciated in the past.The slick tyres used for GT racing are branded Zero: just like the slicks that have become a central feature of Formula One. The name P Zero is used in the highest categories of motorsport such as GT racing.
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SRO Motorsports Group - The architect of modern GT Racing
SRO Motorsports Group was founded by Stephane Ratel and has specialised in the promotion, support and organisation of many national and international motorsport series since 1995.
In 2015, SRO promotes several championships and series, such as the Blancpain GT Series (with the Blancpain Sprint Series and the Blancpain Endurance Series, including the iconic Total 24 hours of Spa), the Avon Tyres British GT Championship and the newly-created GT Sports Club and Ultracar Sports Club. SRO Motorsports Group has various franchise agreements, including the GT4 European Series.
SRO Motorsports Group runs also the SRO Race Centre by MMC, a high-level technical centre at the Paul Ricard Circuit in the south of France.
SRO has offices in London, Paris and Liège.
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