A near perfect debut for the Racing Spirit of Leman Aston Martin Vantage GT3 crew in Spain
Saturday, April 22, 2023
Having only taken delivery of their brand-new car just the day before their Prologue Test undertakings at the circuit on Tuesday this week, then saw Gentleman driver Arnold Robin secure class pole position earlier this morning ahead of this afternoon’s 110-minute race within the mixed field of LMP3 and GT3 cars.
Unfortunately for the race, it was to be blighted with five Safety Car interventions as the LMP3 field again pushed the self-destruct button as early as the first corner of the opening lap as up to five prototypes were eliminated after one car went wide and tried to recover only to push all of them into the gravel.
The #10 Racing Spirit car did a miraculous job in avoiding this turmoil but in part of that avoiding action lost track position to one of Porsche powered crews behind. Twenty minutes of caution was lost to that before the race went back to green only to be pulled up again as another LMP3 went into the gravel with failed rear suspension.
Another Safety Car. And another position lost for the #10 car as the Team Parker Porsche also went through only for the third Safety Car to be called for another LMP3 car in the gravel with seventy minutes left on the race clock.
Going back to green and the #10 car pitted at their first availability as minimum driver time had by then already been served by Robin having done a stellar job in his first LMC race in an AMR.
Now with AMR factory driver Valentin Hasse-Clot behind the wheel, pace and race strategy paid off straight away as the #10 car resumed its lead position in class. Despite a further two Safety Cars for another LMP3 in the gravel and also for a GT3 car in the gravel (having been put there after contact from an LMP3 car), it would become plain sailing for the Frenchman for the final half hour of racing to claim that all important debut class win with a margin of over eight seconds to spare.
Going back to green and the #10 car pitted at their first availability as minimum driver time had by then already been served by Robin having done a stellar job in his first LMC race in an AMR.
Now with AMR factory driver Valentin Hasse-Clot behind the wheel, pace and race strategy paid off straight away as the #10 car resumed its lead position in class. Despite a further two Safety Cars for another LMP3 in the gravel and also for a GT3 car in the gravel (having been put there after contact from an LMP3 car), it would become plain sailing for the Frenchman for the final half hour of racing to claim that all important debut class win with a margin of over eight seconds to spare.
With the LMC now moving onto the double header at Le Mans in June (after the cancellation of the intervening Imola round), Hasse-Clot and Robin will move garages to the TF Sport garage to join up with Max Robin ahead of tomorrow’s European Le Mans Series for hour opener.
Photo credits – Team / LMC
