W&S Motorsport kicked off their GT4 European Series campaign with a PRO/AM class victory at Circuit Paul Ricard, as Hendrik Still and Joachim Bölting secured the top spot in their class in race two with the #32 Bölting Auto Porsche.
The weekend started on a high note when Hendrik Still delivered an outstanding qualifying performance, claiming overall pole position.
“This pole position was definitely a highlight of the weekend,” says Team Principal Daniel Schellhaas. “Hendrik’s qualifying lap was truly impressive. Such a result was unexpected at Paul Ricard, a circuit that traditionally challenges our Cayman. The intensive testing program with the new Pirelli tires in recent weeks and the excellent work of the entire team really paid off.“
The first race yielded mixed results: While penalties and on-track errors prevented a better outcome for Still/Bölting in the #32 Porsche, Max Kronberg and Daniel Blickle secured a strong result in the AM class with their #30 W&S Porsche, collecting valuable championship points with a second-place finish.
Race two developed into a true thriller: After a solid opening stint from Joachim Bölting in the #32, Hendrik Still took the wheel and mounted an impressive comeback drive. In a nail-biting finish, Still clinched the PRO/AM class victory by just 0.002 seconds ahead of the Schubert Motorsport BMW.
“The weekend at Paul Ricard demonstrated our car’s potential,” reflects Hendrik Still. “Joachim showed clear improvement throughout the event. After securing pole position and experiencing an unfortunate first race, we were able to conclude the weekend with a class victory.”
The AM-class duo of Kronberg/Blickle in the #30 faced challenging conditions in the second race. On a drying track, Daniel Blickle was caught between two competitors in lap two, resulting in damage that forced the team’s early retirement.
“The GT4 European Series demands the highest level of performance, especially with such a competitive field,” analyzes Blickle. “Despite tire issues and pit stop challenges, we achieved a satisfying second place in race one. Our fundamental pace is encouraging for the upcoming races. With some procedural refinements, we should be able to fight for top positions in the AM class at Zandvoort.”
In the Silver class, Alon Gabbay and Guy Albag in the #31 Chrom Porsche secured eleventh place in their class in race one, followed by a fifteenth-place finish in race two. The Israeli duo demonstrated consistent lap times throughout the weekend, though a penalty prevented them from achieving a better result in their series debut.
“The performance across all our cars shows promise,” concludes Schellhaas. “While we’re pleased to lead the PRO/AM championship, there’s clearly room for improvement. A cleaner execution could have yielded an even stronger points haul.“
The GT4 European Series continues at Zandvoort from May 16-18, following W&S Motorsport’s ADAC GT4 Germany season opener at Oschersleben.
