SAFETY CAR LEADS TO SURPRISE WINNERS IN RACE 1 AT VALENCIA

The opening race of the Iberian Supercars and Supercars España weekend at Valencia lived up to expectations, delivering an intense battle for victory at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Marginal time gaps and perfectly executed pit stop strategies were decisive in shaping a surprising final classification.

Multiple Safety Car periods bunched up the field, benefitting those who anticipated the driver change as soon as the mandatory pit stop window opened – a gamble that ultimately proved crucial to the outcome of the race.

The final classification was dominated by GT4 Pro-Am Bronze division competitors, who locked out the top three overall positions. Alexandres Areia and Nuno Afonso (Toyota GR Supra GT4 EVO2, Gianfranco Motorsport) managed the race superbly to claim both the overall win and the class victory, executing a flawless strategy by stopping immediately when the driver change window opened.

Close behind, Andrius Zemaitis and Karel Staut (Toyota, Speedy Motorsport) made a fantastic debut, securing second place with consistently strong performances from both drivers. Bruno Pires and Mark Kastelic (Mercedes-AMG GT4, Lema Racing) completed both the class and overall podium, fending off intense late-race pressure from Guillermo Aso and Filip Vava (Mercedes, NM Racing Team) right to the chequered flag.

In GT4 Pro, the race unfolded at full attack from the green light. Francisco Mora made a lightning start and led the opening stint before handing over the Toyota of Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal to Francisco Abreu, who consolidated their lead to take the class victory. However, by pitting too late, they were caught out by the Safety Cars and had to settle for fifth overall.

Youngsters Henrique Ventura Oliveira and Luca Savu (Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4, Racar Motorsport) celebrated their first class podium with a solid second place, while César Machado and Adrián Ferrer (Toyota, Speedy Motorsport) completed the top three after a consistent race and strong defensive driving. It was an excellent debut for the young Spaniard Ferrer alongside the reigning 2024 GT4 champion.

Roberto Faria and Mathieu Martins (Aston Martin, Racar Motorsport) had a strong start, running close to the leaders during the first half of the race, but their strategy was compromised by Safety Car periods and a three-second penalty carried over from their Vila Real podium. They finished fourth, surrendering their divisional championship lead in the Iberian Supercars.

The GT4 Am class had its own thrilling battle, with local driver Manuel Bertolin (BMW M4 GT4 EVO, GT Corse) taking victory. Paulo Macedo and Luís Calheiros (Porsche Cayman CS RS, Veloso Motorsport) pushed hard, finishing less than two seconds behind. Miguel Nabais / André Nabais (Toyota, Gianfranco Motorsport) secured third with a steady performance, capitalising on misfortunes suffered by the early leaders.

In GTX, victory went to António Almeida, in only his second outing in the category, and experienced Brit Thomas Roche (Ginetta, Tockwith Motorsport), who navigated the Safety Car periods perfectly. Ángel Santos / Alejandro Iribas (Ligier, Petrogold) claimed second, while Henrique Moura Oliveira (BMW, Monteiros Competições) – who had led the class during the opening half of the race and set the fastest pace in GTX – rounded out the podium. Pompeu Simões / Duarte Camelo (Porsche, Speedy Motorsport) came close to stealing third in the closing laps.

In GT4 Am, Ruben Vaquinhas and Pedro Bastos Rezende (Aston Martin, Araujo Competição) maintained their unbeaten record with another flawless performance, taking class victory after a clean and consistent run. Smörg and Javier Macias (BMW, Promotion Motorsport) finished second despite a puncture that robbed them of the chance to fight for the win.

Finally, in the CUP category, Rui Miritta (Monteiros Competições) delivered a commanding performance to win the Porsche 911 Cup-only battle, holding off Angel Lanchares (LAN GP Team), who was later hit with a 165-second penalty for an incorrectly timed pit stop. Adam Fawsitt / Pedro Paiva Raposo (Protech Motorsport) completed the podium in third place.

The second race is scheduled to start at 16:05 (local time) and will be broadcast live on  DAZN España and DAZN Portugal, as well as on the competition’s official social media channels (in Spanish). For international fans, live coverage will also be available in English on Alpha Live YouTube, German on Motorsport Television Deutschland, and Italian on Parc Férme TV, bringing the Supercars Endurance action to audiences worldwide.

POS DIVISION DRIVERS CAR TEAM GAP

1 GT4 Pro-Bronze N. Afonso / A. Areia Toyota Gianfranco Motorsport 24 laps

2 GT4 Pro-Bronze A. Zemaitis / K. Staut Toyota NokoTech Racing by Speedy +1.645

3 GT4 Pro-Bronze B. Pires / M. Kastelic Mercedes Lema Racing +7.874

4 GT4 Pro-Bronze G. Aso / F. Vava Mercedes NM Racing Team +8.679

5 GT4 Pro F. Mora / F. Abreu Toyota Toyota Gazoo Racing Caetano Portugal +13.174

6 GT4 Pro H. V. Oliveira / L. Savu Aston Martin Racar Motorsport +19.553

7 GT4 Pro-Bronze J. Cautela / L. Monteiro McLaren McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport +20.679

8 GT4 Pro-Bronze S. Azevedo / O. Batina Toyota Batina Racing +21.579

9 GT4 Pro C. Machado / A. Ferrer Toyota Speedy Motorsport +22.338

10 GT4 Pro M. Martins / R. Faria Aston Martin Racar Motorsport +22.709

11 GT4 Pro J. de los Milagros / N. Martí BMW Promotion Motorsport +25.915

12 GT4 Bronze M. Bertolín BMW GT Corse +27.615

13 GT4 Pro M. Huber / T. Granzella Mercedes NM Racing Team +27.799

14 GT4 Pro J. C. Pires / T. Guedes Toyota Speedy Motorsport +28.698

15 GT4 Bronze P. Macedo / L. Calheiros Porsche Veloso Motorsport +30.199

16 GT4 Bronze M. Nabais / A. Nabais Toyota Gianfranco Motorsport +34.246

17 GT4 Bronze A. Prieto / R. Costa Mercedes NM Racing Team +38.703

18 GT4 Pro J. Engström / L. Leveau Mercedes CV Performance x JP Motorsport +39.896

19 GT4 Pro-Bronze M. Cristovão / P. Cunha Porsche Veloso Motorsport +41.597

20 GT4 Am P. B. Rezende / R. Vaquinhas Aston Martin Gianfranco Motorsport +42.751

21 GT4 Pro L. Tavares / J. Aguiar-Branco Porsche Speedy Motorsport +43.288

22 GT4 Bronze V. Oliveira / F. Carvalho Aston Martin Racar Motorsport +44.489

23 GTX A. Almeida / T. Roche Ginetta Tockwith Motorsports +45.463

24 GTX Á. Santos / A. Iribas Ligier Chefo Sport Petrogold +47.624

25 Cup R. Miritta Porsche Monteiros Competições +52.982

26 GTX H. M. Oliveira BMW Monteiros Competições +56.047

27 GTX P. Simões / D. Camelo Porsche Speedy Motorsport +56.407

28 GT4 Bronze B. Hormigos / H. Hernández BMW Autoworks Motorsport +56.738

29 GTX A. Wendt McLaren McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport +1:06.996

30 Cup Á. Lanchares Porsche LAN GP Racing +2:14.239

31 GT4 Pro-Bronze B. Pereira / G. Araújo Aston Martin Santogal – Araújo Competição a 1 lap

32 GTX S. Kirton / J. Elsworth Ginetta Tockwith Motorsports a 1 lap

33 Cup A. Fawsitt / P. P. Raposo Porsche Protech Motorsport a 1 lap

34 Cup V. Costa Porsche Monteiros Competições a 1 lap

35 GTX O. Muytjens / B. Pineau Porsche HY Racing a 1 lap

36 GT4 Am J. M. Smörg / J. Macías BMW Promotion Motorsport a 2 laps

37 GTX G. Mitchell / L. Staccini Ginetta Tockwith Motorsports a a 4 laps

NC 707 GT4 Am A. Lopes / F. Videira Aston Martin Racar Motorsport

NC 30 GT4 Am V. Dasí / J. Perera Mercedes PCR Sport

NC 3 GT4 Bronze K. Potež Mercedes Lema Racing

NC 11 GT4 Bronze Á. Lobera / G. de Andrés McLaren McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport

NC 15 GTX Á. Fontes / M. Gaspar Porsche Lema Racing

NC 164 GTX P. Marques / G. Caçoilo Ligier Chefo Sport Petrogold

NC 22 GTX A. Vázquez / A. Colomina McLaren McLaren Barcelona – SMC Motorsport