- Dominant TOPCAR (#131) runs ends in gravel trap
- Autorama takes fourth win from five
- Heartbreak for Nordschleife Racing (#172) in sight of the line
- Synchro Motorsport (#676) takes best ever result for ‘A3’ car
Odds favoured TOPCAR sport by Bas Koeten Racing (#131) to take TCE victory as the Hankook 24H PORTIMAO entered its second half. Having roared into the lead from the second row, the CUPRA TCR had dominated the opening 12 hours, and had already amassed a four-lap lead over the pursuing pack. It was a performance ended, brutally, by a trip through the gravel to avoid a stationary Porsche on the racing line, the high-speed contact rupturing the CUPRA’s radiator and frying the engine. Just like that, TOPCAR was out.
Following another consistent run, Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing (#112) was the beneficiary, and having already pulled a 10-lap advantage over its nearest rivals, summarily waltzed to the chequered flag to collect its fourth win in five starts, placing one hand on the TCE European championship in the process.
Having qualified on pole position, 2nd was still a solid result for AC Motorsport (#188), given the issues the Audi RS3 LMS had to overcome in Portimão. After receiving a love tap from the GPX Racing Porsche early on, being instructed to repair the resultant hanging bodywork, and struggling with overheating tyres, the Belgian team’s afternoon went further off the rails when the front right tyre parted company from the rim. Quick thinking from Sam Dejonghe meant the Audi was able to continue and collect a hard-earned podium.
Nordschleife Racing (#172) was not so fortunate. The French team – a former TCE champion under its original ‘Team Altran Peugeot’ name – went into the second half of the event propping up the TCR field courtesy of a beached moment in the gravel, but had moved its way consistently back into the top three come the final hour. Then all hell broke loose: fuel pump failure ground the Peugeot 308 Racing Cup to a halt with just 10 minutes left on the clock. A rapid turnaround meant Nordschleife, briefly, kept 3rd in TCE only for the same problem to strike a few laps later. With no time left to repair the issue, 3rd in the TCR class was confirmed, but the final overall podium step was gone.
That instead went to Synchro Motorsport (#676), and with barely five minutes left on the clock to rub salt further into the wound. In doing so, the Honda secured its second A3-class win on the bounce, despite concerns for engine and brake temperatures, and a couple of broken front struts. Even clumps of tyre pick-up had removed most of the Honda’s rear bumper…
3rd overall in TCE was not only a well-deserved accolade for the former TCE Team’s champion, it also marked the first time that an A3 car finished on the overall TCE podium since the division’s introduction for 2016. So excited was team principal Alyn James with the news that he inadvertently tapped the overall GT leader heading into turn one!
A broken turbocharger for Hofor-Racing by Bonk Motorsport (#869), and the resultant 4.5 hours required to fit the replacement, meant all hope of an A3 class win for the BMW was quickly out the window, though the Swiss/German team did “run like clockwork” thereafter to secure 2nd in-class, albeit 156 laps adrift.
Further back, potential podium contention for Red Camel-Jordans.nl (#101) came to a close when the CUPRA TCR suffered brake failure at the end of the start-finish straight at three-quarter distance. Save a couple of bruises, Klaus Kresnik mercifully emerged unscathed, but the CUPRA’s race was run.
Overall Top 3 (TCE)
1. Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing (#112, Volkswagen, TCR) – 641 laps
2. AC Motorsport (#188, Audi, TCR) – 622 laps
3. Synchro Motorsport (#676, Honda, A3) – 609 laps
24H SERIES Europe Top 3 (after round 4) – TCE
1. Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing (#112, Volkswagen, TCR) – 84 points
2. AC Motorsport (#188, Audi, TCR) – 69 points
3. Synchro Motorsport (#676, Honda, A3) – 68 points
24H SERIES Continents Top 3 (after round 2) – TCE
1. Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing (#112, Volkswagen, TCR) – 58 points
2. AC Motorsport (#188, Audi, TCR) – 44 points
3. Red Camel-Jordans.nl (#101, CUPRA, TCR) – 36 points
Fun facts:
- At Portimão, Autorama Motorsport by Wolf-Power Racing had more class wins than any other single TCR team.
- Synchro Motorsport scores the first outright TCE podium position for an A3-class car.
- Nordschleife Racing / Team Altran Peugeot denied first outright podium since 2017