Espiritu de Montjuic
Historic Endurance
Spirit of Montjuic
Historic Endurance
Pedro Bastos Rezende wins the first day of Espíritu de Montjuïc
- Fantastic atmosphere in the paddock with temperatures helping to make the race even better
- First day of Espiritu de Montjuic with a breathtaking race
- Pedro Bastos Rezende wins in front of full house in Barcelona
The first day of the fantastic event Espiritu de Montjuic started in the best way, with temperatures rising and clear skies, a full paddock and a very relaxed family atmosphere. On track, the Gentlemen Drivers spirit was strongly evident as the 31 teams prepared for the first race of the weekend and with the honour of closing the first day of this great event.
Jordi Puig had the important role of starting from pole position, at the wheel of the imposing Ford GT40, with Pedro Bastos Rezende (Porsche 911 3.0 RS) at his side. The Spanish driver used all the power of his car to get ahead of the Portuguese driver when braking for the first corner. After the two leaders, there was a chasing group of four teams. Bruno Santos, debutant in the Iberian Historic Endurance, Eduardo Davila, who introduced a new engine in his Porsche, the duo Stephane /Mathias Rey in Crossle and Florent Cazalot in Lotus 7.
Puig used all his knowledge of the Catalan track to build an advantage over his pursuers, quickly taking off from Bastos Rezende who did everything to find a fast pace that would allow him to take advantage of the mandatory stop.
However, the excitement for the lead of the first race of the year was far from that experienced in the middle of the pack. With very entertaining fights for the various categories. In the H-1965, Carlos Barbot and Ron Maydon were in an interesting dispute for the lead. In H-1971, Luís S. Ribeiro watched from a privileged position as "David" (Joaquim Soares in a Lotus Elan) and "Golias" (Paulo Lima in a Ford Mustang) fought for second place in the category. In GDS we watched a fight for the highest position between the two Porsche SWB of Carlos Beltran and Vincent Jimenez. For the public present this race was a real treat! With fights all over the peloton.
Emotions were so high that the strong heart of Bruno Duarte's Porsche did not resist, forcing the Portuguese driver to abandon the race and the Safety-Car was called with 30 minutes to go. All the advantages were fading and the Gentleman Drivers of the Historic Endurance were grouping once again. However, after only 1 lap behind the safety car, the drivers window opened and the lead was shuffling once again, the teams were uncertain who would be the winner of the various categories.
Pedro Bastos Rezende, strategically entered when the Safety-Car was leading, leaving Jordi Puig on track. Following Bastos Rezende was Carlos Barbot in his Lotus Elan 26R. The Oporto Racing driver was in the lead, however, the advantage he gained was due to a miscalculation in the pitstop time that caused the experienced driver to be penalised by 30 seconds. Before the penalty, Bastos Rezende had already recovered the position and overtook the Lotus Elan, taking the lead of the race for the first time and commanding the H-1976 category.
In the Gentleman Driver Spirit, the returning Paul Rayment won the category and contradicting the Porsche's favouritism. Nuno Nunes received the chequered flag in second place and Frenchman Vincent Tourneur completed the podium in this first race.
In H-1965, victory was won by Oporto Racing's driver Carlos Barbot in a Lotus Elan 26R. The Portuguese driver was followed by the British pair in the agile Ginetta G4R of Ron Maydon and Robin Ward. The British pair was visibly pleased with their result and above all with the Gentleman Driver spirit lived by the whole Historic Endurance squad. Completing this podium was the Iberian duo of the Porsche 356 SC of Guillemo Velasco and Francisco Freitas, who throughout the 50 minutes of race were fighting for position with several cars of the Gentleman Driver Spirit.
With a battle worthy of television was the fight for the lead between the H-1971. Luís Sousa Ribeiro and Joaquim Soares fought a titanic battle, either Lotus Elan led in the corners or the BMW 2800CS passed in the straights. This authentic battle for position between the two gentlemen was spectacular to watch. In the end, it was the Lotus Elan of Joaquim Soares that conquered the first victory of 2022, followed by the BMW 2800CS of Luís Sousa Ribeiro, with the Alfa Romeo GTAm of Jorge Santos/ Alcides Petiz doing a solid race, completing the podium of the category that counted with more than 7 participants.
Nos H-1976, Bastos Rezende subiu ao degrau mais alto do pódio, o piloto do Porsche 911 3.0 RS preparado pela Garagem Aurora venceu e convenceu todos o público presente no circuito. Bastos Rezende foi secundado por Eduardo Davila, piloto que estreava o novo motor do seu Porsche 911 3.0 RS que foi montado e aprimorado pela estrutura alemã Scuderia GT. Mário Meireles terminou a primeira corrida no terceiro posto, o piloto da AMARacing no final mostrou-se muito contente pelo resultado e encantado pelo desafiante e “escorregadio” traçado catalão.
Jordi Puig e Alberto Pecanins foram os grandes protagonistas da classe H-GTP & Sporstcars. A dupla catalã do Ford GT40 eram os grandes favoritos ao triunfo e concretizaram esse favoritismo apesar de confidenciarem que “enganamos-nos durante o período do Safety Car, pensávamos que o Pit Lane estaria fechado. Erro nosso, mas estamos muito contentes com esta vitória entre os H-GTP & Sportscars. Amanhã não cometeremos o mesmo erro”. O francês Florent Cazalot com o seu Lotus 7 subiu ao lugar intermédio do pódio, este foi acompanhado por outro Lotus 7 mas da dupla Portuguesa João Mira Gomes e Nuno Afoito, que terminaram no terceiro posto da categoria.
Para Diogo Ferrão, responsável pelo Historic Endurance : “ É excelente voltar a Barcelona e a ver estas fantásticos carros em pista que nos proporcionaram uma fantástica corrida ao bastante público presente. Após 5 meses de Inverno é fabuloso tornar a ver os carros no seu esplendor, ao mesmo tempo que o respeito em pista continua a ser a norma, pois com 32 carros durante 50 minutos todos voltaram com a chapa intacta.”
O Historic Endurance volta no Domingo para a segunda e última corrida do fim de semana que tem ínicio às 15h25 hora espanhola, 14h25 hora portuguesa. Pode acompanhar o Live Timing através da APP Race Ready disponível para iOS e Android.