Double podium for Orange1 FFF Racing Team at the Circuit Paul Ricard 1000 kms

Orange1 FFF Racing Team concluded with a double podium finish the second round of the 2021 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup. Although certainly positive, the result doesn’t make full justice to the potential expressed so far, both in qualifying and the race, by the Chinese squad. 

In this second round, held in the evening at the Circuit Paul Ricard, the Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO #63 conquered the second pole position of the season after the one signed at Monza. Starting s leaders, Andrea Caldarelli, Marco Mapelli and Mirko Bortolotti faultlessly led for 5 hours a challenging and very open race, building a small gap over the rivals and managing it without any issues during the central part of the race. 

At sunset, a Full Course Yellow and the subsequent intervention of the Safety Car, allowed rivals to close the gap. Around 40 minutes from the end, because of a pace decrease due to the temperature drop at eve and also a possible slight contact, Mapelli found himself battling with the cars behind him, eventually having to concede the lead. 

The race of car #63 still yielded the first podium of the season for the three Lamborghini Factory Drivers, further confirming the excellent competitiveness level of the Lamborghini Squadra Corse’s flagship car, certainly to be counted among the favourite ahead of the much-awaited 24 Hours of Spa scheduled end of July. 

The weekend in France also left a positive outcome for the team’s other car, entrusted to the Pro-Am pair composed of Hiroshi Hamaguchi and Phil Keen, who at the wheel of the Huracán GT3 EVO #19 finished on the second step of the class podium, as happened in the first round at Monza.

In the overall standings, Orange1 FFF Racing Team is sixth, while it is second in the Pro-Am ranking, only three points from the top. 

Fu Songyang, Orange1 FFF Racing Team Team Principal
“This second round of the season represents a step forward with respect to the unlucky race in Monza, although we cannot say to be happy 100%. We are glad to take a double podium, but we still aren’t where we want, and can, be. We have all the cards to win and we have proven it. We will continue to work hard and we are determined to go to the 24 Hours of Spa at the best of our form. I’m nonetheless very proud of the work of our six drivers and all the team’s guys, who gave their very best throughout the weekend, as usual”