GT4: BMW youngsters win race decided in the final moments

The first GT4 race of the Valencia round, counting towards the Iberian Supercars and the Campeonato de España de Supercars, delivered one of the most intense moments of the weekend, with multiple direct battles and a conclusion decided only in the final seconds. In the end, Eric Gene and Jan Durán, at the wheel of BMW Motorsport España’s BMW M4 GT4 EVO, claimed their first Supercars Endurance victory.

Hendrik Still started from pole position in Veloso Motorsport’s Porsche Cayman CS RS and delivered an impeccable stint, building a lead of more than seven seconds. That gap proved decisive in allowing Carlos Vieira to emerge from the driver changes still in the lead, despite the ten‑second handicap applied to the duo following their Vila Real win. However, the advantage was not enough to stop the recovery of Eric Gene, who was perfectly placed to challenge the Veloso Motorsport Porsche thanks to an attacking first half of the race from his team‑mate, Jan Durán.

In the decisive moments, Gene launched his attack on Vieira, with both drivers engaging in a fierce fight for the lead. The Portuguese driver eventually spun, ending any chance of a podium for Veloso Motorsport. With no rivals nearby, Gene drove authoritatively to the chequered flag, delivering a performance that confirmed the potential of BMW Motorsport España’s M4 GT4 EVO.

McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport also shone, with Rafael Rajani and Luís Aguiar securing a solid second place in the McLaren Artura GT4 after a consistent, error‑free race. The podium was completed by Francisco Mora and Rodrigo Almeida in Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal’s Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2, who executed a smart and well‑managed race.

Debutant Gustav Berglund and experienced driver Simon Connor Primm finished fourth in the Mercedes‑AMG GT4, achieving CV Performance x JP Motorsport’s best‑ever result in the championship. Fifth place went to Tomás Granzella and Filip Vava in NM Racing Team’s Mercedes‑AMG GT4, who could have reached the podium were it not for a 15‑second penalty for track‑limit infringements.

Anton Morsing and Mathieu Martins, in Racar Motorsport’s Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO, which had started from pole, ran in the leading positions until a technical issue forced the British car to retire.

In GT4 Pro‑Bronze, Francisco Abreu and José Carlos Pires, also in a Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo2 from Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal, confirmed the strong pace shown in practice and won the division despite the ten‑second handicap carried over from Vila Real. Guillermo Aso and Mario Pinazo finished second in NM Racing Team’s Mercedes‑AMG GT4, while Andrius Zemaitis and Lachlan Evennett - despite a penalty for failing to meet the pit‑stop handicap — completed the podium in Nokotech Racing by Speedy’s Toyota.

Ricardo Costa and Andrés Prieto were the strongest in GT4 Bronze with NM Racing Team’s Mercedes‑AMG GT4, thanks to another error‑free and well‑controlled performance. Vasco Oliveira and Manuel Gião finished second in Racar Motorsport’s Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO, while Borja Hormigos and Héctor Hernández returned to the division’s podium in Autoworks Motorsport’s BMW M4 GT4.

One of the fiercest battles of the race unfolded in GT4 Am. Jaime Sanchis and Alex Wendt, in SMC Motorsport’s McLaren Artura GT4, prevailed after an intense fight with RV7’s Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, driven by Ruben Vaquinhas and Mico Mineiro, who finished second. Third place went to Josep Parera and young “sim racer” Aleix Nogué in NM Racing Team’s Mercedes‑AMG GT4.

The second GT4 race takes place tomorrow, Sunday, at 12:50 (Lisbon time), and will be broadcast live on DAZN Portugal, DAZN Spain and on Race Ready’s social media channels, with commentary in Spanish and English. Outside the Iberian Peninsula, coverage will also be available on Motorsport TV Deutschland (Germany), Parc Fermé (Italy) and Braking Zone TV (Brazil).