The destination of the LMGTE Team and Driver titles couldn’t have been closer when rivals Proton Competition and Kessel Racing finished 1st and 2nd in Portugal. The two teams were tied on 99 points and they both had two wins, two seconds and one fourth and two pole positions from the five races. The crew of the number 77 Proton Competition Porsche – Christian Ried, Michele Beretta and Alessio Picariello - were declared champions due to the fact they had won the first race of the season at Paul Ricard.

The number 60 Iron Lynx Ferrari started the 4 Hours of Portimão from pole position and 2020 Michelin Le Mans Cup Drivers Champion took full advantage to open up a small gap to the number 88 AF Corse Ferrari of Francois Perrodo and the number 77 Proton Competition Porsche of Christian Ried. The championship leading number 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari was down in 8thplace.

The number 66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari of Rodrigo Sales went off into the gravel on the exit of Turn 5, causing the first Full Course Yellow period to be declared. The rest of the LMGTE field stayed out on track as the LMPs took advantage to make an early stop.

The race went green and the status quo remained in the class battle for several laps with Duncan Cameron in the number 55 Spirit of Race Ferrari closing up in Christian Ried’s Porsche to take third place at the end of the first hour. However, the places switched back a few laps later with Michele Beretta and Aaron Scott now behind the wheels of the Porsche and Ferrari, with Sergio Pianezzola out in front in the number 60 Iron Lynx Ferrari.

The number 93 Proton Competition Porsche made a stop to replace a rear tyre when it started to show signs of delamination. A quick pitstop for new rubber and the car re-joined the race.

Another Full Course Yellow was declared after 80 minutes of racing when the number 88 AF Corse Ferrari of Francois Perrodo went off into the gravel at the final corner from second place, promoting Beretta’s Porsche up to second place. The number 77 Porsche moved into the lead when the number 60 Ferrari was given a penalty for causing a collision with the number 66 JMW Motorsport Ferrari at Turn 5, dropping the Italian down to second place. Pianezzola was fired up and retook the lead after 120 minutes of racing.

The luck of the number 60 Ferrari got worse when the rear tyre delaminated and caused damage to the car as well as spreading debris over the track at the pit entry. The Safety Car was deployed to allow the track to be cleared as the Iron Lynx Ferrari limped into the pitlane.

The number 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari was making progress and was up to second place with David Perel at the wheel and was ahead of Alessio Picariello in the number 77 Porsche. Picariello moved ahead as the clock counted down and opened up a 60 second gap over the course of the next 30 minutes.

The Proton Competition crew were concerned about tyre wear after the incident with the number 93 car so called Picariello in for a new tyre. His lead was such he was able to rejoin 28 seconds ahead of the Kessel Ferrari, with Duncan Cameron in the number 55 Ferrari in third.

The number 83 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Michelle Gatting had to pit with less than 15 minutes on the clock when her car suffered a rear puncture.

The number 77 Proton Competition Porsche took the chequered flag and the championship, 32 seconds ahead of the number 74 Kessel Racing Ferrari. The number 55 Spirit of Race Ferrari was third but was given a 30 second penalty for not respecting the driving time for gold driver Matt Griffin and the number 60 Iron Lynx Ferrari took the final podium spot ahead of the number 93 Proton Competition Porsche.