Iron Lynx Secure GT3 Teams Title And Auto Invitation To 2022 Le Mans 24 Hours

The #8 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Gabriele Lancieri and Paolo Ruberti took victory at Spa-Francorchamps to claim the coveted Michelin Le Mans Cup title for the Italian team and also the invitation to the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Nicolas Leutwiler and Julien Andlauer finishing second in the #2 Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT […]

The #8 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Gabriele Lancieri and Paolo Ruberti took victory at Spa-Francorchamps to claim the coveted Michelin Le Mans Cup title for the Italian team and also the invitation to the 2022 24 Hours of Le Mans. With Nicolas Leutwiler and Julien Andlauer finishing second in the #2 Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT Porsche 911 GT3 R, the drivers title is still up for grabs in Portugal next month.

The early part of the race at Spa saw the #8 Ferrari and #2 Porsche fighting for the lead as Lancieri and Leutwiler battled for track position and with the LMP3 backmarkers, who got in between the two protagonists on several occasions.

This enabled Lancieri to pull away for a while before Leutwiler would get back on terms.

The #9 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Manuela Gostner was further back and trying her best to stay on the same lap as the battling leaders.

There was a heart stopping moment at La Source when an LMP3 car spun right in front of the no8 Ferrari, causing Lancieri to run wide in avoidance and allowing the Porsche to close back up.

Lancieri defended his position as the recovering LMP3 car then got between the Ferrari and the Porsche.

Then with 45 minutes of the race completed the #2 Porsche went off track, with Niki Leutwiler using all his skill to keep control and regain the track without any contact with the barriers.However, this allowed the leading Italian to pull away as the first of two Full Course Yellow periods were declared.

After the pitstops, Paolo Ruberti and Julien Andlauer were now behind the wheel of the #8 Ferrari and the no2 Porsche respectively, while Doriane Pin took over from Manuela Gostner in the #9 Ferrari.
Ruberti had a 20 second advantage and some LMP3 cars between him and the chasing Frenchman, which the Italian used to his advantage.

As the race entered the closing stages the Porsche started to close the gap but there was not nearly enough time for Andlauer to get near the Ferrari to challenge Ruberti for the lead.At the chequered flag Ruberti crossed the line 7.8 seconds ahead and 1 lap in front of the 3rd placed Doriane Pin in the no9 Ferrari.

With a 33-point advantage and just 26 points available at the last race in Portugal, the #8 Iron Lynx Ferrari secured the Team Championship for the second year in a row, but, because the team had been changing drivers in the car, the drivers’ championship sees Niki Leutwiler leading on 89 points, with Julien Andlauer on 74, Paolo Ruberti on 71 and Doriane Pin on 67.

With 26 points available in the final race of the 2021 season, there is still a GT3 title to be won next month.