The 12H race at the Red Bull Ring will leave a bitter taste behind for IDEC Sport as the Mercedes AMG GT3 #17 was in fifth place before being forced to pull out four hours before the end of the race. The trio Patrice Lafargue, Paul Lafargue and Dimitri Enjalbert had been performing well, but this second retirement in three races means the team will not get the result it was hoping for in the championship.
The Red Bull Ring was a new event not just for the 24 hour Series, but also for the IDEC Sport team. The drivers got the opportunity to carry out some trials to get to know the circuit better. While there were only seven bends, it is not easy to be fast on this track as Dimitri Enjalbert pointed out.
Paul Lafargue achieved the sixth best qualifying time with the Mercedes AMG GT3 #17 in the third line. It was the 28-year old driver, who got away first on Friday 7th April at 1415hrs. The early part of the race was not kind to IDEC Sport, as the Mercedes had to go into the pits after a puncture. The #17 set off again in 33rd place. Paul Lafargue tried hard to get back in the agme before handing over to Patrice Lafargue. The owner-driver continued to do well and crossed the line in 12th place in this first part of the race after 3 hrs 30.
The competition got going again on Saturday morning, in the sunshine, but on a damp track. Dimitri Enjalbert was at the wheel for the second start and kept up. After a few handovers, IDEC Sport was in fifth place with four hours left to go. It was once again Dimitri Enjalbert at the wheel, when the AMG GT3 #17 came off the track because of a problem with the brakes. Dimitri was unhurt but the car could not get going again.
This was a disappointment for IDEC Sport who hoped to finish in the top five or make it to the podium again. The mechanics are going to be busy on the Mercedes IDEC Sport to ensure she is ready for the 24 Hour Race on the Paul Ricard circuit on 5th-7th May. But before that, IDEC Sport will be back racing next week for the first leg in the European Le Mans Series at Silverstone in Britain.
