A dream finish was enacted by the Czech team Šenkýř Motorsport at Spa-Francorchamps. The Sunday race of the international series GT Open was started by Joel Eriksson from the second starting position and Richard Gonda held the same rank under the checkered flag in the finish. Their race with BMW M6 GT3 was no free of dramatic duels until the last kilometres before the finish, though.

 

Joel Eriksson was excellent already in the time practice where he fought with the other pilots for the best lap time, eventually achieving the second best after the BMW factory team Teo Martin. Thus the first row in the starting grid was occupied by German cars and a great duel was to be expected. The rival caused hard moments to the starting Eriksson already in the first curve.

 

“To start from the first row, the outside track, is not easy. I tried to get to the inside in the first curve but all around me had the same intention and I was pushed out of the ideal track. I lost six ranks and the Ferrari before me was quicker in the straights so I had to dive reasonably to bring the car in good condition to Richard,” described Eriksson his premiere start with BMW M6 GT3.

 

Seeing the situation in the race the chief engineer began to think up the best possible strategy. He let Eriksson drive long enough to have free track in the course of the stops at least for a couple of laps and then called him in the pits. The harmonised work of the mechanics and the effective change added new energy to the team and full attention of the Šenkýř Motorsport team was focused on Richard Gonda, who performe an exemplary ride on the seven kilometre long circuit, advancing to the third rank and until the last metres fighting with Lourençe Beirãe da Veiga in a factory BMW for the second rank.

 

“I pressed on him all the time, attacked curbs and drove stuck to his rear bumpers. It was a fantastic race which I enjoyed very much. I attacked him until the last lap and eventually managed to overtake him in the curves after the Kemmel straight. It is great satisfaction for us and I must thank the whole team and our sponsors and of course all who kept their fingers crossed for us watching the race on TV,” smiled the happy Richard Gonda.

 

“It was a great battle till the very end. TV viewers must have been thrilled. Both boys performed excellently at their first appearance at GT Open in Spa, not ranking worse than fourth in both the time practice and the two races. I raise my hat to them, the mechanics and all team members, ncluding sponsors, thanks to whom we can be here,” were the words of thanks of the highly satisfied Robert Šenkýř.

 

This season´s premiere of the Šenkýř Motorsport team at GT Open thus ended up with excellent result. After the fourth rank in the first race the whole team accompanied their pilots to the podium after the second race to share with them the joy and the drops of Champaign.