Local legends and title contenders descend on Barcelona for the penultimate round of the 2017 24H TCE SERIES powered by Hankook
Quick pop quiz for you: how many teams have entered at least one race in the 2017 24H TCE SERIES presented by Hankook? Correct, 40. But how many of those 40 teams have scored points at each of the three rounds completed this year…?
…nope, not quite. Four.
Now, if that sounds like tension isn’t high going into the 2017 Hankook 24H BARCELONA, you’d be wrong. Between them, those four teams currently lead the standings of three different categories, and with two rounds still to go, just eight points separate the top seven drivers in the overall standings.
All clear so far? Okay, good, let’s break that down a little further.
Currently on top is QSR Racingschool, their 74 accumulated points – courtesy of a hat-trick of wins in both CUP1 and A3 – putting the #154 BMW M235i Racing Cup just six and eight points respectively ahead of MONLAU COMPETICIÓN (#107) and CWS (#178). No real surprise that Mario Timmers, Jimmy de Breucker and Rodrigue Gillion currently head the overall drivers’ classification, or that the Belgian squad also holds a comfortable advantage in the CUP1 standings. Still, don’t expect a returning DUWO Racing (#235) to make life easy…
The TCR class meanwhile will boast its strongest line-up yet in Barcelona with 21 confirmed entrants. Heading the pack following category wins at Magny Cours and Misano is MONLAU COMPETICIÓN, who will face stiff competition from closest category rivals Wimmer Werk Motorsport (#266) and Red Camel-Jordans.nl (#303).
How stiff? Well, bear in mind Wimmer Werk Motorsport will be keen to follow-up its debut 24H TCE SERIES podium in Misano with another strong result in Barcelona. As for Red Camel-Jordans.nl, the Dutch team is the only other outfit outside the top three to score points at every race so far. Another strong contender to look out for will be the #100 Team Bleekemolen SEAT Leon TCR, which makes its return to the series after winning the season-opening Hankook 24H SILVERSTONE.
Fittingly on Spanish soil, the SEAT Leon will also be the car to beat in TCR, with only four teams – Speed Factory Racing (#108), Bonk Motorsport (#115 and #127) Pit Lane Competizioni (#122) and the debuting AC Motorsport (#888) from Romania – entering an Audi R3 LMS.
Spanish entrants Speed Factory Racing (#109) and Baporo – KH7 (#7) are sure to receive thunderous support from local race-goers, as will Laia Sanz, who is set to drive the #7 SEAT Leon. Senorita Sanz is not only a 13-time Women’s Trial World Champion and 10-time Women’s Trial European Champion, the Barcelona native has also competed regularly on the grueling Dakar Rally since 2011 with Montessa, Gas Gas and KTM.
Leading the way in a tightly packed SP3-GT4 field is CWS, ahead of closest rivals Semspeed (#226). Just as note-worthy as the title fight however are the five teams set to make their season debut in Barcelona. Alongside the #157 Red Ant Racing BWM M4, Ginetta will be ably represented by Endurance Team Romania (#446) and NM Racing Team (#215), while GDL Racing Team Asia (#267) and EST 1 Racing (#981) will both compete with Porsche Cayman GT4s. The debuting Stratton Motorsport (#237) meanwhile simultaneously represents the first time we’ve seen an Aston Martin on the 24H TCE grid in 2017.
Pulling double duty after the 24H SERIES season finale in Portimão, Cor Euser Racing (#71) head to Barcelona in hopes of overhauling the 12-point lead of Synchro Motorsport (#176). Like Team Bleekemolen, Excelr8 Motorsport (#134) makes its return to the series after a two-round absence, just as former D1-class winners at Magny-Cours, Winkler Tuning (#167), return to endurance action in the A2 class against new arrivals Spirit Racing Alders (#168), Motorsport (#180), and RECY RACING TEAM (#194).