Saturday’s first-ever race in the open category for LMP3 and similar cars may have been a short and soggy affair, but it was not without its share of drama. On Sunday, however, the second of the two scheduled enduros did go all the way. And it culminated in a three-abreast moment as the leaders raced down the pitstraight with minutes to go.
Race 1
On Saturday, the prototypes were the unluckiest of the three categories in action at Estoril. The afternoon produced a brief spell of British-style heavy rain – and it hit just as the PWS race was getting going.
Also out of luck were Kevin Rabin and the ANS Motorsport team. Rabin, aged just 16, was at the wheel of the lone Nova NP02 car taking on the LMP3 machinery in Portugal. And he was leading the race when the red flag flew after just two completed laps.
But the reason for the stoppage was an accident between the two leading drivers. Danny Soufi (Konrad Motorsport Ligier) was running a close second behind Sandro Holzem (Rinaldi Racing Ligier) when he hit a huge pool of water as he braked for Turn 1. The American couldn’t catch the resulting spin, never mind find a way to slow down. He pirouetted into the back of Holzem, who had led the early going from pole position.
With both cars damaged and stuck in the gravel trap, Rabin inherited the lead for a few sweet moments. But given the cleanup job and the conditions, a red flag was inevitable. And the results, of course, are declared at the end of the previous lap, meaning Holzem was the winner despite being beached.
Soufi was demoted for causing the red flag, meaning Rabin could at least celebrate second place. And if anyone could count themselves lucky, it was Holzem. It’s not often you still get the win when you’ve been punted off the road – and half points for two laps’ work is also a rare treat in motorsport.
Source: Autosport