GT3 Revival rounds off for the year with another V12 Aston Martin Racing powered race win in Spain

 

 

It was something of an unfortunate whimper to end the year with as the SRO sanctioned GT3 Revival Series saw out its inaugural race season earlier today from the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona, as just over a handful of cars took the chequered flag at the end of the final forty-minute race of the year.

Seeing the early entry lists to this new series swell from the low thirties for the opening round of the at Paul Ricard to nearly fifty cars at the round from the Spa Classic next time around, this weekend’s entry list did mention a respectable eighteen cars for this finale but even some of those didn’t arrive.

 

Within those who did turn up was the Fanta Racing By Code Classic with their former #62 R-Motorsport V12 Aston Martin Racing Vantage GT3 for Pascal Huteau as well as the #16 Britec Motorsport supported #16 V12 AMR Vantage GT3 of Dr Afshin Fatemi.

There was much excitement around the running of race one on Saturday just as an impending rainstorm reached the circuit with the cars already upon the grid, but they did at least get off behind the Safety Car with the #62 Aston leading the way from pole position. Many laps later with doing battle with the #20 Ford GT, a brief interlude was had by all as all served their compulsory stop.

 

Coming out again, however, had witnessed the rain intensify to a point where it was now flooding the circuit and the #20 Ford already in the grave at turn one, the red flag was shown on the grounds of safety. With the rain continuing, that would prove to be the end of all racing at the circuit for the day with the #62 car given the race win on countback.

Race two on Sunday was at least at a circuit filled this time with clear blue skies and warming sunshine but sadly at a cost with only ten of yesterday’s fifteen cars running took the start on Sunday. The #62 car was one such car missing but the #16 car was at least there having missed both qualifying rounds and the first race with technical issues.

Making up for lost ground, Fatemi soon elevated himself up the order to run as high as P4 overall by the start of the pit window. Having made its scheduled stop, all was looking good for the #16 car until about six minutes before the end when Fatemi was pulled to pull off track at turn 2 with an apparent continuation of his technical issues of earlier to another unfortunate DNF to end the year with.

Hopefully, all will have seen just what this series is all about with the possibilities of a diverse grid, driving abilities and a wide range of circuits being visited through the season and just maybe, the grid sizes can be maintained throughout the year in 2027.

Photo credits – Series / social media