G-Drive racing take LMP2 victory in Portugal
During the final meeting of the European Le Mans Series, 13 ORECA 07 chassis had an appointment to take part in a final rich in twists and turns. By mastering the race with a master hand, the G-Drive Racing team clinched their first victory of the 2020 vintage and thus ended the season in the most beautiful way with the Aurus 01.
In Portimao, the trio Roman Rusinov, Mikkel Jensen, and Nyck De Vries made a perfect copy. If it’s the # 32 ORECA 07 of United Autosports that started from pole, it’s the # 26 Aurus 01 of Roman Rusinov, who started in sixth place, who took the reins from the first corner. On offense throughout the race, the Aurus 01 can be proud of avoiding all the pitfalls, including two Full Course Yellows and the intervention of the Safety Car. Thanks to a winning racing strategy, Nyck de Vries crossed the finish line in the first place; the first victory in LMP2 for the two young rookies Mikkel Jensen and Nyck de Vries, alongside experienced Roman Rusinov.
Among the great performances of the weekend, Tristan Gommendy, Jonathan Hirschi, and Konstantin Tereschenko, residents of the Duqueine Team also carried out a first-class and deserved operation by climbing to second place. One time at the head of the race, this is their first podium of the 2020 season.
On the side of the sister cars of United Autosports, the fight during several laps of the race finally ended with an advantage for the # 22 who climbed to the third step of the podium, ahead of the # 32. The top 5 is completed by the # 31 ORECA 07 from Panis Racing.
By winning three of the five rounds on the 2020 ELMS calendar, the # 22 ORECA 07 driven by Filipe Albuquerque and Phil Hanson takes the title and at the same time an invitation to the next 24 Hours of Le Mans. The # 32 is also automatically invited to the double clock. With its victory, G-Drive Racing completes the top 3 in the championship. Note that the 13 ORECA 07 chassis at the start of this final have joined the finish.
The 2021 season will now end next weekend, in Bahrain for the World Endurance Championship, and in Sebring for the American IMSA series.