Proton Competition Secure Top LMGTE Spot at Le Castellet

The LMGTE category saw plenty of action during the 4 Hours of Le Castellet, with the number 77 Proton Competition Porsche of Christian
Ried, Michele Beratta and Alessio Picariello eventually coming out on top to take the chequered flag for round one of the 220 season.

On lap 21 the number 93 Proton Competition Porsche of Michael Fassbender had to brake hard going into turn 1 when the number 8
Realteam Racing Ligier cut across after passing him in the braking zone. The Porsche spun off into the barriers and had to limp back to the pits to repair the damage. The number 8 Ligier was later given a drive through penalty for causing the accident.

Behind the two leaders, Christian Ried was coming under some pressure from Michelle Gatting in the number 83 Iron Lynx Ferrari, the FIA
Women in Motorsport backed driver trying to find a way past the rapid Porsche. Ried held his position while gattinf was passed by the number 66 JWW Motorsport Ferrari of Hunter Abbott, but a lap later the two Ferrari’s swapped again as Gatting regained the position at turn 1.

At the chequered flag the number 77 Proton Competition Porsche 911 RSR of Alessio Picariello was 15.4 seconds ahead of the number 74
Kessel Racing Ferrari David Perel, with the number 51 AF Corse F488 in third place ahead of the number 83 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Rahal Frey.

The 15-Minuite Safety car to recover the stricken number 31 Panis Racing Oreca later in the race allowed the order to shuffle again on the restart,
with Alessio Picariello taking the lead of the number 74 Ferrari in the number 77 Proton Competition Porsche. Picariello handed over to Michele Beratta who consolidated the teams lead before handing the Porsche back to Picariello to bring the car home.