Blancpain GT: Nissan Claims Maiden Win at Paul Ricard 1000KM Race

Nissan claimed its maiden win in the Blancpain Endurance Series this weekend at Paul Ricard Circuit during the 1000km race and third round of the season.The Nissan GT Academy Team RJN of Alex Buncombe, Wolfgang Reip and Katsumasa Chiyo drove the #23 Nissan GT-R Nismo across the line first after six hours of racing to lead the #7 M-Sport Bentley Continental GT3 and #46 BMW Z4 GT3 of Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS.

The #11 Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia of Michal Broniszewski, Alessandro Bonacini and Michael Lyons won the Pro-Am class and finished fifth overall while the #25 Glorax Racing Ferrari 458 Italia of Fabio Mancini, Andrey Birzhin and Rino Mastronardini took the win in the Am class. The #63 Grasser Racing Team Lamborghini Huracan GT3 had started from pole and managed to lead the race until it incurred a drive through penalty resulting to a 6th place finish overall.

The #7 Bentley M-Sport car was only 1.6 seconds behind the leading Nissan GT-R with only ten minutes of racing left when the Bentley driver spun. The gap widened but the British Works Team managed to hold on to second place even after making contact with the barrier. The #46 BMW Z4 GT3 flashed across the line 2 seconds later leading ROWE Racing Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and the first Pro-Am car – the #11 Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia.

Blancpain GT Paul Ricard 1000KM Race

Nissan GT Academy Team RJN was eyeing for another win in Pro-Am with the #22 car but a technical failure disparaged their efforts. Similarly, the #12 TDS Racing BMW Z4 GT3 was also fighting for a win in Pro-Am but retired after making contact with another car. Kessel Racing enjoyed a win for Ferrari ahead of the #18 Black Falcon Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 and the #51 AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia.

Ferrari took another win in the AM class with the #25 Glorax Racing Ferrari 458 of Fabio Mancini, Andrey Birzhin and Rino Mastronardi. They shared the podium with the #78 BMW Z4 of Team Russia by Barwell and another BMW Z4 of Boutsen Ginion. The next Blancpain GT round will head over to Moscow on July 3 for the Sprint Series race.

Blancpain GT Paul Ricard 1000KM Race Bentley

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