Press Release 08/2020 07.09.2020
At the Nurburgring, on the short circuit of the Nordschleife, the third round of the GT4 European Series takes place this weekend, with Autorlando-sport at the start as usual with the two 718 Cayman CS MR but with new crews after the double trip Italian of Imola and Misano Adriatico. Car # 75 with Dario Baruchelli alongside Dario Cerati while in car # 76 Giuseppe Ghezzi with the young Dutchman Christian De Kant.
Free practice on Friday used to refine the behavior of the cars on the difficult and technical German circuit and find harmony between the pairs of drivers.
Saturday morning instead dedicated to qualifying, with Qualification1 for Ghezzi and Cerati, respectively 4th and 6th in the AM class, 18th and 20th overall. Similar class and absolute positions for the Q2 of De Kant and Baruchelli.
At the green of race 1 Ghezzi and Cerati keep the lead group but on lap 6 Cerati forces to the chicane and goes into the sand, Full Course Yellow procedure that freezes the positions to allow the course marshals to remove car # 75 and resume the race after 5 laps done at a controlled pace. Cerati, despite the lost time and a quick check of the condition of the car in the pits, starts again. We arrive at the driver change window with De Kant taking the place of Ghezzi and Baruchelli that of Cerati himself. Regular race for both who thus close R1 5th and 6th in class AM, 16th and 19th overall.
Race 2 early in the morning on Sunday, start for De Kant car # 76 and Baruchelli car # 75, which start well, remaining in the wake of the leaders. Cold shower again for # 75, Baruchelli complains of a problem with the cooling system that forces him to retire. In the meantime, FCY and Safety Car again to recover a car in a dangerous position and we arrive at the driver changes. Ghezzi takes the place of De Kant keeping the 4th position but immediately sets up a series of fast laps that gives hope for the podium; he fought until the last corner of the last lap with Mercedes and Aston Martin but in the end finishes the race in 5th with some regret for the missed opportunity.
In the AM standings, Ghezzi is now in 3rd position with 75 points.
Next appointment for the SRO series the last weekend of September at the Dutch circuit of Zandvoort for Round 4.
