Nicolas Leutwiler claims GT3 Drivers Crown in Portimao for TFT Racing
The final two-hour race of the 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup saw the no8 Iron Lynx Ferrari claim another victory ahead of the no2 Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT Porsche, but a battling second place gave Swiss driver Nicolas Leutwiler enough points to claim the 2021 Michelin Le Mans Cup Drivers title ahead of Paolo Ruberti.
The no2 Porsche of Nicolas Leutwiler took advantage of the class pole to lead into T1.
The no8 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Gabriele Lancieri dropped back after contact with the no20 Grainmarket Racing Duqueine, which resulted in a puncture.The Italian was forced to return to the pits for a replacement.
The no9 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Manuela Gostner was second but unable to get on terms with the leading Porsche.
After a Full Course Yellow period to recover a stricken LMP3 car at T1, the race resumed with contact between the no2 Pzoberer Zürichsee by TFT Porsche and the no3 DKR Engineering Duqueine, which resulted in Leutwiler returning to the pits with a puncture.
This promoted the no9 Iron Lynx Ferrari into the lead.
After the pitstops at the mid-way point of the race, the no9 Ferrari of Doriane Pin was leading from her teammate Paolo Ruberti in the no8 488 GT3.
With less than 30 minutes of the race remaining the no9 Ferrari suddenly slowed, with Pin clearly having a problem as smoke was seen from the engine bay of the car.She returned to the pitlane where a small fire was extinguished forcing the team to retire the car.
This left Julien Andlauer in the no2 Porsche getting onto terms with the no8 Ferrari with the two cars nose to tail for several laps as the French driver tried to get past Ruberti.
There was contact as Andlauer tried to go around the outside of Ruberti at Turn 1, which resulted in the no2 Porsche having to return to the pits for checks.Andlauer returned to the track and brought the car home behind the no8 Iron Lynx Ferrari.
With Iron Lynx claiming the 2021 MLMC Team Title and Nicolas Leutwiler being crowned the 2021 MLMC Driver champion, it is the first time since 2016 where there were different teams claiming the two titles.