Silverstone Pre-Race Notebook

Photo: Vision Sport Agency/SRO

***This afternoon’s race will see a total of 61 starters, following the withdrawal of the No. 111 Kessel Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GT3, which suffered a heavy crash in the opening moments of qualifying this morning.

***Four cars have faced grid penalties for not respecting track limits in qualifying. It includes the No. 98 Rowe Racing Mercedes, No. 50 AF Corse Ferrari, No. 28 Delahaye Racing Team Porsche, No. 15 Boutsen Ginon Racing BMW, while the No. 100 DragonSpeed Ferrari and No. 34 Car Collection Motorsport Mercedes will both start from the rear of the field.

***After wins in the Blancpain Sprint Series round at Brands Hatch and the Nürburgring 24 last weekend, Laurens Vanthoor is seeking his third consecutive win today. The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT driver will start from third on the grid this afternoon.

***The iRacing Blancpain GT Series, announced earlier this year, is slated to debut next spring. The virtual championship will feature multiple GT3 cars and teams competing for cash prizes and merchandise. Races will be broadcast on the iRacing Live service.

***While having been absent from the track since the beginning of the year due to the political crisis in his country of Kurdistan, Issac Tutumlu is back this weekend, driving in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo Europe series.

***Elton Julian, who has made his driving return this year, is sporting a unique color on his helmet. The DragonSpeed owner/driver’s helmet is painted in Wimbleton White, a color which most famously adorned Ford Mustangs of the 1960s.

***Be sure to download the official SRO Spotter Guide. With 61 starters, it’s a must-have for those following today’s three-hour enduro.

***Watch live coverage of the race on the official Blancpain Endurance Series site, beginning at 2:45 p.m. local (9:45 a.m. ET). U.S. viewers can watch same-day highlights on CBS Sports Network tonight at 7 p.m. ET.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John