The penultimate round of the GT Winter Series roared into Motorland Aragon this past weekend, delivering a spectacle of high-octane racing, unpredictable weather, and fierce competition among some of the fastest modern GT cars. The event, held near Alcaniz, showcased a stellar grid and set the stage for a dramatic title showdown at the upcoming finale in Barcelona.

Race 1: Wiskirchen Triumphs Amid Chaos

The weekend’s opening race saw SR Motorsport’s Moritz Wiskirchen seize control from pole position, leading the field with authority. Behind him, the action was relentless. A collision between Konrad Motorsport’s Carrie Schreiner and Juta Racing’s Eimantas Navikauskas left the latter’s Audi with a damaged right-rear, leading to a spin at Turn 10 and an early exit. Meanwhile, Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Jonas Karklys held second, fending off a late challenge from AKM Motorsport’s Charles Dawson, who was making an impressive GT3 debut in a Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

A thrilling battle for fourth unfolded between Thomas Andersen’s Razoon Porsche, Simon Orange’s JMH McLaren, and the Cup 4 Lamborghinis of Shota Abkhazava and Jerzy Spinkiewicz. The Super Trofeo-spec Lamborghinis eventually pulled ahead, with Spinkiewicz overtaking Abkhazava for the class lead. However, a late-braking move by Andersen resulted in contact with Abkhazava, forcing the Porsche driver to retire with suspension damage.

Wiskirchen crossed the finish line with a commanding nine-second lead, securing 20 points for SR Motorsport’s title defense. Karklys took second, followed by Dawson in third. Spinkiewicz claimed fourth overall and the Cup 4 victory for UNIQ Racing, while Cristiano Maciel (Cup 1, Ferrari) and Calle Bergman (Cup 2, Porsche) rounded out the class winners.

Race 2: Birch Shines, Rain Adds Drama

Sunday’s early afternoon race saw Simon Birch in the razoon – more than racing #14 Porsche 911 GT3 R 992 dominate from pole, leading lights-to-flag and finishing an astonishing 22 seconds ahead of Juta Racing’s Jonas Gelzinis, who celebrated his birthday with a podium finish. Jerzy Spinkiewicz continued his strong weekend, taking third overall and another Cup 4 win. However, the race wasn’t without incident. An overnight rain left the track slippery, contributing to a spin by Ryan James that collected Przemyslaw Bienkowski’s Porsche, ending both drivers’ races with significant damage.

Mechanical woes struck Liqui Moly Team Engstler’s Luca Engstler, whose Lamborghini failed to reach the grid due to a brake issue. Elsewhere, Cristiano Maciel doubled up on Cup 1 victories, while A-Workx Motorsport’s Ahmed Arif Alkhoori, in only his second-ever race, clinched the Cup 2 class.

Race 3: Clutton Masters Mixed Conditions

The weekend’s finale, a 50-minute pitstop race, tested teams with changing weather and strategic decisions. Starting from pole, Razoon’s Thomas Andersen led early, but a first-lap misjudgment by Cristiano Maciel saw his Ferrari collide with Charles Dawson’s Mercedes, eliminating both and prompting a safety car.

After the restart, Jonas Karklys took the lead for Engstler Motorsport, only for drizzle to complicate matters near half-distance. With tyre changes restricted, most teams hesitated to switch to wets. JMH McLaren’s Marcus Clutton, however, thrived on slicks, overtaking the field and building a lead as conditions worsened, then improved. Many rivals, including Engstler, pitted for wets, but the rain subsided, leaving Clutton and teammate Simon Orange to claim a brilliant overall victory. Cup 1 winners Andreas Sorsensen and Mikkel Mac finished second, while Alessio Ruffini and Milos Pavlovic took third overall and the Cup 4 win after a stellar final stint.

Barcelona Beckons: Title Fight Heats Up

With Motorland in the books, the GT Winter Series heads to Barcelona on March 8-9 for a blockbuster finale. Four teams across four classes remain in contention for the overall title. AF Corse’s Cristiano Maciel and Rui Aguas lead with 158 points in Cup 1, followed closely by Auto Sport Racing’s Alessio Ruffini and Milos Pavlovic (150 points, Cup 4). Defending champions SR Motorsport (144 points, GT3) and Wileco Motorsport’s Calle Bergman and Manz Thalin (142 points, Cup 2) are hot on their heels.

The Barcelona grid will expand with heavyweights like Schubert Motorsport, PROsport Racing, and NM Racing Team joining the fray, alongside returning teams BDR Grupoprom and Araujo Competiciao. With the title on the line and a deluxe field assembled, the GT Winter Series promises an unforgettable conclusion to an electrifying season.

 

 
 

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