Buggyra ZM Racing got its 24H SERIES powered by Hankook campaign off to the best possible start with GT4 class victory at the Hankook 12H MUGELLO, the Czech-based team having overcome a heavy crash during private testing, brake problems, and a fuel pump change mid-race to do so. 

Buggyra, last year’s GT4 Teams’ champion, at one stage had fallen 20 laps behind GT4 rivals Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and Lionspeed GP when a fuel pump problem brought David Vršecký’s first stint to an early finish midway through Saturday afternoon. Smooth running throughout Sunday however, coupled with mechanical issues for both the Hofor Racing BMW and the Lionspeed Porsche, meant Buggyra was back up to 2nd in-class with just three hours of the race left to run, and into the lead heading into the penultimate hour. An advantage Vršecký’s teammate, and team staple, Aliyyah Koloc held to the chequered flag.

“I really love Italy and the Mugello track – it’s nice to be in the greenery and not in the sand!” Aliyyah Koloc explained, post-race. “The race was fantastic although it didn’t get off to an easy start for me on Saturday: the car wouldn’t get off the line and then two drivers spun in front of me: everything was happening! 

“The main thing is that over the course of the race I was consistent and fast. I’m happy and I actually surprised myself. Even in the wet I had fun, so it was a great team effort and I’m really proud of the whole team after our early setback on Wednesday: we definitely have the best mechanics, so big congratulations to them!” 

Tellingly, the weekend got off to a difficult start for Buggyra when its race chassis was heavily damaged in an off during private testing on Wednesday. So much so in fact that a spare chassis had to be transported in overnight and prepared ahead of Free Practice and Qualifying on the Friday. Vršecký, Koloc and Adam Lacko dutifully repaid their mechanics’ efforts by claiming GT4 class pole, though a troubled start to the race meant the #416 Mercedes-AMG had slipped to 3rd after the opening hour. Further time would be lost with brake problems  and heavier-than-expected tyre wear during Lacko’s opening stint on the Saturday before the fuel pump issue struck.

Trouble would later find both Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and Lionspeed GP, however. The former suffered a broken rear axle and would lost 50 minutes in the pits during the eighth hour, while the Lionspeed GP Porsche – having, ironically, survived on-track clashes with three GT3 cars (including a heavy hit from the Kessel Racing Ferrari 488 GT3) – collided with the MP Racing Mercedes-AMG GT3 at turn one during the ninth hour. The Italian team’s Mercedes, once free of the gravel, was able to continue, but the #424 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 CS Clubsport lost significant time in the garage to front end repairs and a punctured radiator. From 19 laps down after 6.5 hours, beneficiary Buggyra ZM Racing was back in the lead in the home stretch. 

It was a performance Buggyra ZM Racing has called “arguably its best-ever team performance over the course of the four days” in its post-race statement. The result is also a stark contrast to last year’s Hankook 12H MUGELLO, from which Buggyra ZM Racing retired with just 15 minutes left on the clock with a transmission issue.

Buggyra ZM Racing will be back in action at next month’s Hankook 12H SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS as it continues it second, full European season campaign with CREVENTIC in 2024.