A truly memorable championship battle should always keep people guessing. In this respect, the 2018 Blancpain GT Series campaign was one to savour. With the final championship standings confirmed, we took the opportunity to speak with this season’s title-winning team managers.
From start to finish, nothing about the past season was predictable. In some cases the destination of the championship trophy remained uncertain until the very last lap, with a single pass enough to change everything. The tension was written across the faces of team members in the garages as a year of work came down to the final few kilometres.
Among fans, the battle to be crowned drivers’ champion often attracts the greatest attention. This is understandable – after all, the drivers are the stars of the show – but those who run the cars are just as interested in taking home the teams’ award.
Be it overall, Pro-Am or Am Cup, a teams’ championship is the ultimate prize for a year of hard work by a dedicated and passionate group. Ending the season on top requires plenty of tough days and a few very long nights – particularly at the Total 24 Hours of Spa – making a title triumph especially sweet.
The 2018 campaign saw six different teams earn silverware across the classes. Some secured their first major honours in international GT racing, while others added to an already extensive collection.
But each of these teams is united by a common approach: they are already planning for yet more success in 2019 and beyond.
AKKA ASP Team, Mercedes-AMG GT3: Overall
AKKA ASP was the standout team of 2018, with Jerome Policand’s squad securing an impressive haul of silverware that included the overall teams’ title. With Raffaele Marciello capturing the overall drivers’ championship and also combining with Michael Meadows to take Sprint Cup honours, it was a landmark year for the French outfit.
« To be honest, I never expected this! » said Policand. “My goal was to be on the overall podium, because I thought we were not yet completely ready.
« To win a championship, you need to have a different perspective,