Both of the Surrey team’s Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo2s showed podium-challenging pace during the final 6-hour Endurance Cup race of the year, however misfortune struck both in varying forms to hinder their efforts.

 

The #72 JNKD/VIP Motors-backed car shared by Gabriel Rindone, Casper Stevenson and Patrick Kujala was taken out of the podium fight when the team was forced to perform a late brake pad change. Despite the swift work of the engineering crew, the delay in the pits would leave the car a disappointed seventh after an otherwise superb performance that deserved more.

 

Although it started the race full of promise, the troubles for the #78 Dama Fortuna Tequila-supported sister car began earlier, with a cocktail of unfortunate punctures and penalties leaving Till Bechtolsheimer, Ricky Collard and Sandy Mitchell eighth at the finish.

In a change for the Fanatec GT series, the championship travelled beyond mainland Europe for only the second time in its history, with the seaside venue of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit making for a spectacular venue for the season finale under the lights. The 3.8-mile track stands as the world’s fastest street circuit and presented an all-new challenge to the Barwell crews.

 

Promising pace out of the box made for a promising start across testing as the cars and drivers were dialled into the demanding new circuit, and hopes were high ahead of qualifying. However, with 47 cars running on the tight track – and track limits proving a particular challenge – both cars were hindered by either laps lost to traffic or straying beyond the white lines.

 

Both Huracans would begin the race on the fringes of the top 10, but knowing they had the pace to move forward. Bechtolsheimer took the wheel for the start in #78, with Rindone installed in #72. Despite the congested race start, Bechtolsheimer established himself inside the top 10 with Rindone close behind as the twin Lamborghinis looked to stay clear of trouble and build momentum as the race wore on.

 

However, the #78 was dealt a blow within the opening hour when a sudden right-rear puncture forced Bechtolsheimer into an impressive piece of car control to save the resulting slide. The American brought the car back to the pits and swapped places with Collard. But the bigger damage was done when the race’s first safety car arrived soon after, with the #78 narrowly missing out on beating the class leader round and therefore losing a lap by being denied a wave-by for the restart.

 

Chances of a top result were dashes and, even though all three drivers put in a determined display to claw back ground, a second puncture for Mitchell compounded matters further, leaving them eighth in class at the flag.

 

Hopes therefore rested with the #72, and for five of the six hours the crew looked like delivering what would have been a richly deserved second podium finish of the campaign. Two solid opening stints around the safety car from Rindone were then backed up by a superb performance from Stevenson, who scorched up the order. Stevenson worked his way into the top three and briefly took the class lead at mid-distance before handing across to Kujala with all eyes on the podium.

 

However, soon after the Finn took over it became clear that all was not well. Kujala radioed back about a suspected brake issue. While he managed the problem for the best part of an hour, the team was forced to change the brake pads during the car’s final stop to guarantee the race finish as the unique characteristics of the Jeddah circuit took their toll, with many other competitors experiencing similar troubles. The lost minutes would limit the #72 to seventh at the flag, a far cry from the sort of result the performance deserved.

 

Regardless, there can be no denying the European season has been a success for the Barwell team. Across the Sprint and Endurance Cup contests, the team’s Lamborghinis have amassed five podium finishes – one coming in the world’s most gruelling GT3 race, the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa – and a race win. Even with the disappointment in Jeddah the team ends the year third in the overall Fanatec GT Bronze Teams’ Championship.

 

Barwell Motorsport team principal Mark Lemmer said: “Jeddah was a really bitter-sweet weekend for us. Firstly, what a venue! It’s an incredible circuit and facility, and it was also very refreshing to have to learn a track from scratch – we’ve not had to do that for quite a few years! It was really heartening to see both our cars running strongly after a tricky qualifying, and the #72 in particular looked set to pull off a remarkable result before we had to make the brake change on safety grounds. Luck just wasn’t with the #78 crew, who undoubtedly had the potential to be right up there had they not endured pretty much everything being thrown at them. Yet all three drivers kept their heads up and pressed on to the finish.

 

“Overall, it’s a shame to end our European season without a big result, but there are still some big positives to take. At one point during the race we were scoring well enough to be leading the overall Bronze Teams’ Championship, and that shows just how strong this season has been overall for us. That can only help us come back stronger next year.”

 

Barwell Motorsport now enters the winter break, with news of the team’s domestic and European activities for 2025 due to be announced shortly.