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Photography

Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS - tests Le Castellet 2022 © Yann SEITE - 7-8 March 2022

H

ello,

The Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS is more than ever a success: 9 brands (52 cars) are in competition, represented by their most experienced clients. One explanation among others : the 'Balance Of Performance', often adjusted by SRO, to baseline technically disparate GTs.

The Endurance and Sprint championships tests took place at Le Castellet on March 7th and 8th. For the drivers, it was an opportunity to assess their race and qualifying pace on the Paul Ricard track (variant without the north chicane), and for the teams to check their pits organization. They also allow them to finalize or officially present their lineups.

So let's feel a bit of the excitement that reigned on the Provençal plateau...

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ALENTINOOooo... HE was there, HE unveiled the Audi WRT in yellow and black colors, HE made dozens of selfies and autographs. Always friendly and smiling.

Although his teammates, Nico Müller and Fred Vervisch, are in the media shadow, their expertise as factory drivers is precious. Despite few 'leisure entries' in the past, the MotoGP legend undoubtedly lacks experience on 4 wheels, especially in the Pro category. 'Il Dottore' therefore practices repeated debriefings, data analysis, procedures learning.

Regardless of his room for improvement, he is the perfect ambassador for the GT World Challenge, especially since the first meeting is scheduled at Imola...

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he Audi proudly displays the mythical number 46 !

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he best lap was made by Fabian Schiller (1:52:533) in his Haupt Racing Mercedes, still in raw carbon as many other competitors.

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ups, I should have started this chronicle with the Iron Dames, especially because March 8 was Women's Rights Day... The pink Ferrari is driven by Sarah Bovy, Michelle Gatting and Rahel Frey.

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t Iron Lynx, they also do the 'for men version', for Miguel Molina, James Calado and Nicklas Nielsen !

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he Swiss Emil Frey Racing are loyal to Lamborghini, and are focussed on the Endurance championship. The crews are reinforced by the experience of some Lamborghini Squadra Corse factory drivers, such as Mirko Bortolotti, Albert Costa or Franck Perera.

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part from the 'VR46' attraction, WRT Audi has a strong top crew : Dries Vanthoor (below) Charles Weerts, Kelvin van der Linde.

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ôme Ledogar will hardly do better than in 2021: wins at the 24h of Le Mans (GTE Pro), at the 24h of Spa, and title in GT World Challenge !
Surprise, this year he is a 'defector' from Ferrari, to the benefit of Porsche. New challenge ? With his teamates Klaus Bachler and Matteo Cairoli (old friends from the Porsche Cup), he has many assets to perform well with Dinamic, a 'human sized' italian team regularly playing at the front.

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llied Racing is a newcomer in the GT World Challenge. The German team will have a busy season, since it will enter 19 cars in 8 championships !

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sually placid, the panda – like other animals of the Ursidae family – can attack when it feels in danger, and inflict fearsome bites with its imposing molars and powerful jaw muscles".
... The 'Crazy Panda' is back in 2022 !

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claren 720S GT3: it's a constant pleasure to observe the details of this prototype disguised as a GT, which makes the slightest Ferrari looks like a <biiiiiip> .
The British manufacturer is increasing its forces with 6 cars in Endurance and 4 in Sprint. The nominees are Inception Racing, JOTA, JP Motorsport and Garage59.

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ould you like a supplement of Rossi ?

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ost scriptum...
I forgot, here is what I saw on the evening of March 8, just before leaving the circuit ! Hence the usefulness of always keeping some time for the 'packing' of session #N, which often coincides with the 'unpacking' of session #N+1. In this case that of the historical Peter Auto series.

S

ee you soon for a next event !