Akkodis ASP Wins Paul Ricard 1000km for Mercedes-AMG

Jules Gounon, Timur Boguslavskiy and Raffaele Marciello reignited Akkodis ASP’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup title defense by taking victory in the Paul Ricard 1000km.

The drivers of the No. 88 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo rebounded from their retirement at the Monza season-opener with a polished performance in Saturday evening’s six-hour contest that included a starring final double stint from Marciello.

The Swiss driver charged from fourth to the lead during the penultimate hour before increasing the margin to 9.8 seconds at the checkered flag.

Mercedes-AMG achieved a one-two result as Maro Engel, Fabian Schiller and Luca Stolz finished second for GetSpeed Performance, while the ROWE Racing BMW trio of Nick Yelloly, Marco Wittmann and Philipp Eng were third after a penalty for Sainteloc Junior Team.

Akkodis ASP started from pole but spent most of the middle portion battling for the outside podium spots.

Gounon made a strong start, maintaining his lead, although the starring entry in the opening stages was Attempto Racing’s Tresor Orange 1 Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II which Dennis Marschall brought up to second.

Attempto then used an undercut strategy to move in front at the opening round of pit stops, before Mattia Drudi established an eight-second margin over Gounon.

The German squad’s advantage continued to build as Boguslavskiy, a Silver-rated driver, stepped into the Akkodis ASP Mercedes-AMG and became occupied with challenges from Eng in the No. 98 ROWE BMW M4 GT3 and the GetSpeed Mercedes-AMG of Schiller.

However, just after the halfway mark, Attempto saw its 30-second lead evaporate when the Audi retired with a damaged left-rear tire.

That drama promoted ROWE into the lead after Eng worked his way past Schiller and Boguslavskiy, who ultimately dropped to fourth behind Sainteloc Audi driver Christopher Mies but nonetheless produced a solid stint that teed up Marciello for the end.

Akkodis ASP intentionally pitted Boguslavskiy early in his double, getting Marciello in the No. 88 Mercedes-AMG for as long as possible within his maximum driving time.

Marciello then produced a standout drive, dispatching fellow Mercedes-AMG factory driver Stolz along the Mistral Straight after a side-by-side battle through several corners, then overtaking Patric Niederhauser in the Sainteloc Audi at Signes.

At the end of the penultimate hour, Marciello caught up with Yelloly and planted the Mercedes-AMG down the inside of the ROWE BMW at the final corner to seize a lead that he would keep through the subsequent final stint.

GetSpeed emerged from the final round of pit stops ahead of both Sainteloc and ROWE, putting Mercedes-AMG on course for the one-two result.

Niederhauser finished 17 seconds behind Stolz, with Yelloly a further second back.

The five-second post-race time penalty for Sainteloc for multiple track limits breaches ensured that ROWE claimed its second podium of the season.

Antonio Fuoco crossed the line fifth in the No. 71 AF Corse Ferrari 296 GT3 as the Italian manufacturer’s sister car came through in seventh, behind the other ROWE BMW.

Ferrari had a consistent race at the sharp end of the field but didn’t quite have the speed to challenge for the podium with its new car.

Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus finished eighth in the No. 46 Team WRT BMW after starting from 20th, while the Belgian squad’s other car fell out of victory contention just under two hours in.

Charles Weerts faced an attack from AF Corse driver Daniel Serra into Turn 5, but as the Ferrari driver got alongside, the BMW veered off-track with a problem on the right-front corner.

Another high-profile casualty was the Iron Lynx Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 which suffered a left-rear puncture while running in fifth.

Gold Cup honors for the second race in a row went to Comtoyou Racing’s No. 21 Audi crew of Maxime Soulet, Nicolas Baert and Max Hofer.

Haupt Racing Team’s No. 79 Mercedes-AMG claimed victory in Bronze Cup after late drama for Garage 59, which saw its No. 188 McLaren 720S GT3 Evo lose its left-rear wheel with seven minutes to go.

Tresor Attempto Racing won Silver Cup despite its sister Pro entry missing out on a potential overall triumph, while Car Collection Motorsport dominated Pro-Am.

RESULTS: Paul Ricard 1000km (final)