Ricky Collard and team-mate Marvin Kirchhöfer won Race Two of the penultimate round of the 2019 Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe (1st Sept 2019) in their #76 R-Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT3.
A decent grid position, fast pace and a bit of luck came together at the Nürburgring where they chalked up a first win of the season for R-Motorsport.
Starting from fifth place, the Anglo-German pairing delivered a flawless performance to close the gap on the top 3 by the end of the first stint. By virtue of a quick pit stop, the number 76 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 emerged from the pit lane, with Ricky at the wheel, on course for a podium finish.
Joining the race in third, 2.731 seconds further back he immediately started hunting down the Audis and put in the fastest lap of the race in his pursuit.
As he closed on the second place Audi mistakes by the two race leaders moved him in to first place. Despite pressure from the pursuing pack, Collard asserted the lead, finishing 1.655 seconds ahead of the second placed car.
“I’m speechless!” said Ricky Collard. “I can’t thank everyone enough! It’s my first year with then team and with Aston Martin. Did I think we’d be up on the top step? No way – I was hoping for a podium but if I get a sniff of a win, you dig a bit deeper to get it. No one expected this and what the team have done behind the scenes is fantastic!”
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