Martinet by Almeras Claims Maiden Win of Season at Dijon

Photo: GT4 European Series

Henry Hassid and Steven Palette have given Martinet By Alméras its first victory of the GT4 European Series Southern Cup season, winning Race 1 at Dijon-Prenois with its Porsche Cayman GT4 Clubsport MR.

Palette took the lead following the pit stops, when Stephane Tribaudini made a slight mistake, costing the CMR driver his lead.

This wasn’t the first time the Martinet by Almeras Porsche had been out front, however, as Hassid briefly massed Gilles Vannelet for the top spot at the start.

The CD Sport Porsche soon reclaimed the lead however, dropping Hassid back to second.

Vannelet and Mike Parisy managed to hold on to second position by the end of the race, finishing six seconds down on the leaders.

“The grip conditions were quite tricky out there so we had our hands quite full,” commented Hassid. “Everybody was trying to work the wheel to keep the car on the black stuff!

“That said, the Ginettas were nimbler than us through the corners. There was a lot of hard racing up and down the order but it always remained fair.”

The final podium position went the way of Robert Consani and Benjamin Lariche in the No. 8 Speed Car Ginetta G55 GT4.

There was a single Full Course Yellow period, which later became a Safety Car, following an off from the No. 27 Imsa Performance Porsche.

The second 60-minute race of this weekend’s GT4 European Series round at Dijon-Prenois takes place on Sunday at 2:35 p.m. local time.

RESULTS: Race 1

Jake Kilshaw

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