BLANCPAIN SPRINT CUP HUNGARORING (H) AUGUST 26-27 ROUND 4/5
IT’S BEEN A WHILE, BUT MARCEL FASSLER has got that winning feeling once again. After he had a winless campaign in Audi’s final season in the World Endurance Championship, you had to go back to the Sebring 12 Hours – in a Chevrolet Corvette – last March for the Swiss driver’s last victory and then look even further back – to Bucharest 2008 in FIA GT – for his most recent triumph at an SRO-sanctioned event.
But Fassler ended that drought with aplomb at the Hungaroring last weekend, following up a comfortable lights-to-flag win in the qualifying race with his first Blancpain Sprint Cup victory in the main event, putting himself and WRT team-mate Dries Vanthoor firmly in the running for the title with just one round of the series left.
In truth, that first win owed much to the stunning performance of Vanthoor, who is starting to emerge from the shadow of elder brother Laurens as a seriously quick driver in his own right, and led JMW Motorsport to GTE-Am honours at Le Mans.
After being fastest out of the traps in both Friday practice sessions at this most Audi friendly of circuits, the 19-year-old laid the foundations for a weekend of dominance with his first series pole – almost two tenths ahead of Mirko Bortolotti’s Grasser Lamborghini. Remarkably, Vanthoor had only cracked Q3 once before this season, with 12th in the Misano curtain-raiser his previous best result.
This story is from the August 31 2017 edition of Autosport.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 31 2017 edition of Autosport.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
The Shock Of The New
If the spectacle of Lewis Hamilton carving his way to the world title seems familiar, much is changing off-track in the new Liberty era.
Vettel Proves Ferrari Is Back
FORMULA 1'S NEW ERA IS ALL ABOUT BIGGER CARS, WIDER TYRES, MORE downforce, and greater performance than ever before. But this category remains one defined by small margins, and ultimately it was minor details that meant Ferrari rather than Mercedes went home victorious from the first grand prix of 2017.
Nigel Roebuck
A genuine threat to mercedes.
Dan Gurney 1931-2018
Dan Gurney 1931-2018
How Kubica's F1 Racing Dream Was Put On Hold
How Kubica’s F1 Racing Dream Was Put On Hold
Halo It's Here
Like it or loathe it, the halo safety structure is a fixture for Formula 1 in 2018. Here’s how it’s set to affect the cars.
Rosenqvist's 10-Step Guide To Beating Buemi
The Swede turned the tables on Formula E’s top dog, beating the reigning champion and taking the lead in the title chase.
Ferrari's Finest
A selection of the Italian marque's racing machinery provided a compelling centrepiece to Autosport International 2018.
Richards' Latest Task
The Prodrive boss andnewMSA chairman assessed the challenges and opportunities facing British motorsport in 2018.
Newey F1's Aero Artist On Its New Aero Era
The Red Bull design guru can see some interesting elements in the new rulebook.
