Hard graft but no big result for the two Aston Martin crews after Sundays ELMS visit to Spa

With the #97 car of Berry having qualified on the second row of the LMGT3 pack in third and DeBoer down in an uncharacteristic seventh despite having tested at the circuit for the first time a few months ago, the real battle for both cars would be with its increase base weight (after their recent podium success at both Imola and Paul Ricard for the #59 car) as well as an adjustment in performance characteristics for the Vantage GT3 affecting both throughout the event.

Luckily avoided some sodden weather that was affected parts of Europe only slightly further north, the race got underway avoiding the first corner carnage of the Le Mans Cup Series and saw the #59 car make an opportinust progression up the class order by the time they went up Raidillon for the first time.

Holding onto third and gapping the next car behind by the tune of over five seconds, the race quickly formed its routine until (just fifteen minutes into the race) when the #66 Ferrari was unceremoniously forced into the guard rail by passing traffic – Safety Car.

Back to green and whilst the #97 made ground to fifth on the restart, the #59 fell back to sixth as three other LMGT3’s became embroiled into a battle of their own that eventually saw the P2/P3 and P4 placed cars all go off into the tyre wall just before the top of the opening hour.

Eventually getting back to green, a spinning LMP2 car was narrowly avoided by the #97 on the exit of the bus stop on the start straight before there was further LMGT3 contact at Eau Rouge that would see two further cars out of the race which (as a consequence) allowed the #59 to lead the class with the #97 in third.

Back to green after another long clean up, the race was quickly back under caution as another LMGT3 car contacted an LMP2 at Eau Rouge taking both out too. 

The race was finally able to get going at the halfway two-hour mark as both Stevenson and Adam were aboard the respective Aston Martins but by the time the race reach the beginning of its final hour, positions had changed as the #59 had slipped down to fifth and the #97 was about to get a drive through penalty for abuse of track limits.

The race eventually ended with the #59 crew heading the Aston Martin Racing pair in fourth whilst the #97 crew would finish just behind in fifth. Championship wise – the Racing Spirit of Leman crew now lead their Drivers and Team Championship lead by the slenderest of margins as the series moves onto its penultimate round of the season from Mugello in a month’s time.

In between then and now, we have the next round of the World Endurance Championship to contend with from the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.

Photo credits – Teams / series / social media