NIL MONTSERRAT: “THE LEVEL IS EXTREMELY HIGH, BOTH AMONG TEAMS AND DRIVERS”

The NM Racing Team arrives at the final round of Supercars España with every reason to believe in success. The Barcelona-based outfit remains firmly in contention for both the GT4 Pro-Bronze and GT4 Bronze titles and approaches the Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto weekend as the stage for the season’s ultimate showdown.

As has been tradition for many years, the Spanish team contests the Supercars Endurance with three Mercedes-AMG GT4 entries across three different divisions – GT4 Pro, GT4 Pro-Bronze and GT4 Bronze – once again standing out as one of the championship’s leading protagonists.

Team principal Nil Montserrat, a central figure in the Catalan squad’s structure, reflects positively on a season in which NM Racing Team has further cemented its reputation as a reference point within the Iberian GT racing scene.

“This was clearly our goal for the year – to have a car in each class and compete on all three fronts,” Montserrat begins. “We knew it wouldn’t be easy, as each driver pairing has its own objectives, which demands that we stay 110% focused while fighting for three different championships. The outcome has been extremely positive – we’ve achieved wins and podiums in every category.”

Throughout the year, Supercars España has showcased what Montserrat describes as its highest-ever level of competitiveness. “The standard has been incredibly high – both in terms of teams and drivers. Without doubt, this has been the strongest season yet for the championship, and it positions Supercars Endurance among the most competitive GT4 series in Europe,” he said.

The NM Racing Team has been a leading force in two particularly closely-fought divisions. In GT4 Pro-Bronze, Guillermo Aso and Filip Vava head into Jerez with a slender two-point advantage over Nuno Afonso and Alexandre Areia in the Gianfranco Motorsport Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, and five points clear of Orlando Batina and Sérgio Azevedo in the Batina Racing Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2.

Meanwhile, in GT4 Bronze, Ricardo Costa leads the standings with 108 points in the team’s Mercedes-AMG GT4, 11 points ahead of Francisco Carvalho and Vasco Oliveira in the Racar Motorsport-run Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 EVO.

For Nil Montserrat, the team’s presence at the top of both classes reflects its collective strength and maturity. “We’re leading in Pro-Bronze with Guillermo and Filip, who’ve had an excellent season, and also in Bronze, where Ricardo Costa has done a fantastic job in his first year with the Mercedes-AMG. As the standings show, the competition couldn’t be closer. Our main rivals are the Toyotas and Aston Martins, and I’m convinced the title fight will go right down to the wire. We have a big challenge ahead,” said the Spaniard, a former Iberian Supercars driver himself.

Montserrat also took time to highlight the GT4 Pro pairing of Switzerland’s Max Huber and Uruguay’s Tomás Granzella, who are completing their debut season in the series. “Let’s not forget Max and Tomás – it’s their first year in the championship and they’ve already been on the podium. They’re improving every weekend, and I’m confident they’ll be even stronger in this final part of the season, thanks to the experience they’ve gained,” he noted.

The final round of Supercars España will be held at Circuito de Jerez-Ángel Nieto, a circuit Montserrat knows well, though he feels it offers no special advantage to his team. “Honestly, I don’t think there’s any home advantage. Jerez is a circuit that all the Supercars Endurance teams know very well, but it’s one we enjoy immensely. We’ll give it everything to fight for top honours across all three divisions and end the year on a high,” assured the NM Racing Team boss.

As the Spanish series reaches its decisive stage, the tone within the team is one of confidence tempered by realism. Montserrat concluded: “The margins are tiny and any small detail could decide the title. That balance is exactly what makes both Supercars España and the Iberian Supercars so exciting. We head to Jerez with everything still to play for – and with the ambition to come away as Spanish champions.”

The Supercars España season finale takes place from 31 October to 2 November at Circuito de Jerez, in a round that also counts towards both the Iberian Supercars and the Campeonato de Portugal de Velocidade, with both series set to conclude their seasons at the Autódromo do Estoril on the final weekend of November.