Belén García, already a top-five finisher on her debut last month, breaks new ground with her maiden podium result in the European Le Mans Series. The DKR Engineering trio finished runner-up in the LMP3 category at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet thanks to an excellent performance mixing talent, speed and strategy with her two teammates. Bolstered by this emotional podium for the Spaniard, the crew will aim even higher at the next round at Imola (5-7 July).
Just three weeks after her debut, Belén García was back behind the wheel of the #4 Duqueine M30 – D08 in her second European Le Mans Series race.
On Thursday, she began testing with seriousness and determination alongside teammates Wyatt Brichacek and Alexander Mattschull. The trio racked up the laps in cold, damp conditions, with Belén García finishing in the LMP3 top ten drivers in both sessions. These productive tests continued in the dry on Friday and Saturday, with the Catalan setting the fastest time for her team again.
« Although the forecast was for sunshine for the rest of the weekend, getting mileage in wet conditions is always good, » said the native of L’Ametlla del Vallès. « The times were also promising, and we were becoming more and more confident. However, we had a slightly strange feeling with the power steering in some corners and a lockup sent Alex into a spin in the last session. »
Wyatt Brichacek was in the car for qualifying on Saturday afternoon. Victim of the same issue as Alexander Mattschull in FP2, the American nevertheless managed to improve his time on his final attempt, which earned him seventh place, less than eight-tenths of a second off pole position in an LMP3 category where the gaps between cars have never been smaller.
« We had the same issue with power steering and steering maps », analysed Belén. « We changed some things overnight and headed into qualifying with high hopes, but Wyatt spun the same way as Alex in FP2. He still managed to finish in P7, only eight-tenths off the pole, which is quite good all in all. Unfortunately, it cost us four tyres, and we also needed to see what was causing the occasional lockups under braking in T1. For the race, we had to do with only two sets instead of three, but we still had chances to fight for something! »
Alexander Mattschull was entrusted with starting the 4 Hours of Le Castellet on Sunday. Shod on new tyres, the Bronze driver lost a position before fighting back with three overtakes in less than four laps. Once in the top five, the German benefited from the Kendy Janclaes-led team’s work during his pit-stop to pick up another place. After a second stint marked by a long battle with the Barcelona-winning #8 Team Virage, the German handed over to Belén García at the start of the third hour of the race.
Fitted with fresh tyres, the RACC Mobility Club and Sant Cugat del Vallès Alt Rendiment Centre-supported driver came out of the pits in sixth place. The Spaniard gradually settled into her rhythm despite the delicate challenge of traffic management, where you have to be able to attack while sharing the track with the faster LMP2 cars. While controlling tyre degradation, Belén García made up ground on the leader before the race dramatically changed after 22 minutes behind the wheel.
Taking advantage of a virtual safety car caused by the #88 Inter Europol Competition entry, the team brought Belén García in for Wyatt Brichacek. With the field bunched up ahead of the final hour, the American gained one position with the retirement of the #12 of WTM by Rinaldi Racing before stepping up his game on the restart. Putting in a string of LMP3 fastest laps of the race, he moved into the lead before a splash and dash with 20 minutes remaining. After restarting fourth, he began a frantic final sprint, overtaking the n°35 Ultimate with seven laps to go. Far from satisfied, Wyatt Brichacek gave everything he had in the waning minutes to take the chequered flag less than four seconds adrift of the winners.
« Being regularly on the podium is among the goals this season, and we finish P2 in our second race », added Belén. « It didn’t look like it would happen from qualifying onwards, but we made a tactical gamble. It wasn’t ideal for me, but it was the best for the team, and that’s what Endurance racing is all about. I’m happy for everyone and for myself as well. It’s a moral booster for the team, and we needed it after two difficult weekends. We weren’t expecting this one because it came from a challenging situation this week. It gives us reason to be optimistic, and that’s what we’re aiming for. And it shows that it’s quite possible, and fight for even more. »
« This podium is another milestone in my career and a new step in the right direction », she concluded. « I’m learning a lot, but my thoughts are with my grandfather today. He passed away just before the race week last month in Barcelona, so this podium is full of symbolism. It’s great to step onto the podium and think of him and his daughter – my mother – as it’s Mother’s Day today in Spain. My entire family has always supported my dreams, and I’ll keep doing everything possible to make them proud! »
Buoyed by this emotional first podium finish, Belén García and her teammates have taken DKR Engineering up to fourth place in the championship, just ten points behind the leaders, before the next round on 5 to 7 July at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola (Italy).
4 Hours of Le Castellet – LMP3 : 1. RLR M Sport #15 118 laps ; 2. DKR Engineering #4 +3.716s ; 3. Ultimate #35 + 1 lap ; 4. Eurointernational #11 + 1 lap ; 5. Cool Racing #17 + 1 lap…