CMR Alpine Wins GT4 International Cup

Photo: SRO

CMR won the inaugural GT4 International Cup at the Bahrain International Circuit on Saturday afternoon, beating qualifying race winner Phoenix Racing.

Pierre Sancinena and Pierre-Alexandre Jean combined to take the win in CMR’s No. 36 Alpine A110 GT4, in a weekend dominated by GT4 European Series and FFSA GT teams.

Milan Dontje started the 60-minute contest from pole in his No. 5 Phoenix Audi R8 LMS GT4 after he and Nicolaj Moller-Madsen won both qualifying races.

Dontje led the opening stint but lost the lead to Sancinena during the pit stops, and had to settle for second at the line.

The CMR driver continued to lead the rest of the race and hold onto a 5.6-second lead at the checkered flag.

Enzo Guibbert finished in third behind the Phoenix Audi, with his 3Y Technology BMW M4 GT4, while Finlay Hutchison was fifth for Academy Motorsport. 

Hutchison’s co-driver Matt Nicoll-Jones had run second early in the race, slipping in behind Dontje at the start.

Thomas Drouet and AKKA ASP team principal Jerome Policand were classified sixth in the French team’s Mercedes-AMG GT4, meanwhile.

Steven Palette crossed the line fourth in the No. 41 Sainteloc Junior Team Audi R8 LMS GT4 but he failed to serve a drive-through penalty and so is expected to receive a post-race time penalty, moving the Academy and AKKA ASP cars up to the top five.

A five-minute safety car period was called to retrieve the Sportscarboutique Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR, and was the race’s only neutralization. 

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.