Opened in 2009, Slovakia Ring is one of the jewels of motor racing in Central Europe. Slovakia Ring is also one of the longest courses visited by the Ultimate Cup Series in 2019.
This circuit in Slovakia is a complex circuit. Measuring nearly 6 km, composed of 14 turns, a ground with little grip, Slovakia Ring is a very technical and fast track at the same time. Our drivers must therefore redouble their attention and concentration to achieve their objectives and avoid off-road runs.
After an exciting 6-hour thrilling race under the Slovak sun, with a summer outdoor temperature and lots of suspense, here is the Proto and GT ranking of this incredible Ultimate Cup Series race on the Slovakia Ring circuit.
The first line of the grid was all Norma, with the M30 Red River Sport by Nielsen #16 of Johnny Mowlem/Bonamy Grimes in pole position, qualified with a time average of 1.55.592, against 1.55.658 for the Norma DB Autosport #21 trio driven by Antoine Robert, Lionel Robert and Hugo Carini. Three qualifying sessions had been run, with the pilots of the crews following each other at the wheel. The two Norma had shared the sessions, Bonamy being the fastest in the first, Carini in the second and Antoine Robert in the third. Antoine Robert set the fastest time of the qualifications in 1.54.106 ahead of David Droux (Norma RealTeam #7) in 1.54.294 and Johnny Mowlem (1.54.470).
On the first Ligier JS P3, the #26 of the Vincent Capillaire/Matthias Kaiser Wimmer Werk Motorsport was third on the grid, in 1.55.849, ahead of the Norma Graff #9 of Eric Trouillet/Luis Sanjuan.
After the first hour of racing, the Norma of Grimes/Mowlem led ahead of the Norma Graff #9; the Ligier Graff #9 and the Norma #7. Then the Norma DB Autosport took the lead, Trouillet/Sanjuan keeping second place ahead of the Ligier Wimmer Werk Motorsport. At the mid-race, the hierarchy was identical, but in a different order, the Norma Graff was first, one lap ahead of the Norma #21 and the Ligier #26. An hour later, the trio was the same, but the Norma DB Autosport had practically returned in the wake of the Norma Graff.
The crossfire continued, DB Autosport now leading the peloton but tightly packed by the Ligier JS P3 Wimmer Werk Motorsport, while the Norma Graff was in ambush; Trouillet and Sanjuan, crew Gentleman, were even in the lead with half an hour to go, but Luis Sanjuan was caught up by Matthias Kaiser, the Norma DB Autosport having lost a little ground. With 20 minutes to go, the junction between Norma #9 and Ligier #26 was made and on the 157th lap of the race, with 10 laps to go, Kaiser passed and the Ligier he shared with Vincent Capillaire won ahead of Norma de Trouillet/Sanjuan and A. Robert/L; Robert/Carini. Eric Trouillet and Luis Sanjuan were comforted by winning the Ultimate Gentleman category.
The best lap in the race was the work of David Droux (Norma #7) in 1.56.296.
The Gentleman drivers had an incredible race. Third place went to the newcomers in the Ultimate Cup Series, Team Scuderia BI & BI. The TFT Team won second place after a very close battle. And the winners are part of the Graff Racing Team, which shows that he masters endurance races perfectly.
Overall Winners:
1st place: V. CAPILLAIRE, M. KAISER, car number 26 (Team Wimmer Werk Motorsport)
2nd place: E. TROUILLET, L. SANJUAN, car number 9 (Team Graff Racing)
3rd place: A. ROBERT, H. CARINI, L. ROBERT, car number 21 (Team DB Autosport)
Ultimate Gentleman Winners :
1st place: E. TROUILLET, L. SANJUAN, car number 9 (Team Graff Racing)
2nd place: J.L. RIHON, W. CAVAILHES, car number 3 (Team TFT)
3rd place: R. VITTO, M. BELLINI, M. BIFFIS car number 36 (Team Scuderia BI&BI)
Overall UGTFREE Winners:
1st place: Jean Paul PAGNY, Thierry PERRIER, Jean Bernard BOUVET, car number 1 (Team VISIOM)
The complete ranking is here
Claude FOUBERT