After the season's opening race at Misano Adriatico, and the second round of the 2017 season at Brands Hatch, England, it was the turn of the Belgian track of Zolder to host the third race of the season of the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup. The Belgian circuit is a spectacular old-style track, which hosted numerous F1 Grand Prix in the seventies and eighties, and for the last few years has been an invaluable stage for GT races.
Three Ferraris from the Kessel Racing Team raced at Zolder, including the number 11 car, which saw Broniszewski-Piccini become 2016 PRO-AM Champions, the number 39 car with Bhirombhakdi-Van Dam at the wheel, and the number 888 of the 458 GT3 with drivers Earle and Perel. Saturday's Qualifying Race saw the team put on a great performance with a stunning victory in the PRO-AM class for Bhirombhakdi-Van Dam and third place for Broniszewski-Piccini who drove a superb comeback race. Earle-Perel also took first place in the AM class. With Saturday's greatly satisfying results, Sunday's Main Race saw the return to success of the 2016 Champions, Broniszewski-Piccini, in the PRO-AM class, ahead of Bhirombhakdi-Van Dam and the AMG GT3 Mercedes of Beaubelique-Gounon. The AM class saw success for the 458 GT3 of Earle-Perel, who leave Belgium with two victories.
The Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup season will now take a break until the end of August after which the fourth race of the season will take place on the Hungaroring track just outisde Budapest.
RONNIE KESSEL (Team Owner): "It was another weekend of great passion and great results, with victories in both the PRO-AM and AM classes. Special thanks to all the team, who worked, as always, in an exemplary fashion. The season has now reached a crucial moment with many overlapping appointments. The most important thing will be to stay focused and work with great passion, as always."