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ProSpeed Competition Porsche trio prove to be 'Ring masters in thrilling battle

Goossens fended off a persistent challenge from Dutchman Jeroen Bleekemolen in the Black Falcon Mercedes No.18 to win by just 0.521s, the closest winning margin in the history of the championship.

Hennerici started the ProSpeed Competition Porsche 911 GT3 R from seventh on the grid but dived up the inside of the pack at the first corner chased by China's Cheng Congfu in the Black Falcon Mercedes.

Hennerici led to the first round of pit stops where the Porsche was jumped by the Black Falcon Mercedes who got Mike Parisy (FRA) into the race ahead of Maassen.

Behind was drama as the championship-leading Marc VDS Racing BMW No.3 with Finland's Markus Palttala at the wheel, was hit by Frenchman Dino Lunardi in the Sainteloc Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra No.40 and speared off into the barrier. With chassis damage the car was out on the spot.

"What can I say, I'm gutted for the whole team. We had the pace to win here today and we were in a pretty good position to do exactly that," a disappointed Palttala said.

"At the chicane I was defending my position when I felt the hit from behind; the next thing I know I'm in the tyre wall and we're out of the race. I haven't seen the footage, so I don't know exactly what happened, but for us it is the worst case scenario.

"We leave here with no points, which means we face an even tougher battle for the championship next time out at Navarra."

ProSpeed got its car back ahead on the last round of pit stops with Goossens ahead of Bleekemolen, who relentlessly chipped away at the gap over the final 45 minutes.

For the last 20 minutes the cars were less than a second apart, but with his front tyres deteriorating, Bleekemolen could never quite find an opportunity to pass Goossens.

Hennerici, who also played a major part in the organization of the event, was delighted with the result. "I am so pleased, in the previous sessions yesterday it was going badly and I was thinking last night that it was going to go badly today but we've done really well. The team set up the car nicely and it was a pleasure to drive," he said.

Maassen added: "The race was tough but our start was incredible, Marc put the car from seventh to first, unbelievable. So he put the pressure on and when the Safety Car was out we lost a bit of time but it was OK.

"We've been pushing so hard all year in the championship but at some tracks we've been unlucky but today it's great to see our hard work pay off. We're going to celebrate for sure."

Parisy paid tribute to co-driver Congfu Cheng for his lightning start in the No.18 Mercedes. "Great job from the team, great job from the Mercedes. It was a great result," he said.

"Like the ProSpeed team, we had a great start from our Chinese rocket. Congfu put us in a good position and a good place to fight for victory."

Third place went to the Vita4One BMW No.66 trio of Frank Kechele (DEU) Mathias Lauda (AUT) and Greg Franchi (BEL). 

The Belgian Audi Club Team WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra No.1 of Stephane Ortelli (MON), Christopher Mies (DEU) Christopher Haase (DEU) was fourth to move to within three points of their Marc VDS No.3 rivals in the championship.

It was a successful all-round weekend for Black Falcon with victory in the PRO-AM class courtesy of Britons Sean Edwards and Oliver Morley and Luxembourg's Steve Jans in the No.19 Mercedes.

Edwards grabbed the lead of the class half an hour from home to secure their maiden win.

The final moments of the race played havoc with Morley's nerves. "This was the best win of my career and it was an amazing experience. I was so nervous by the end of the race when Sean [Edwards] was in the car that I actually went and hid in the truck," he said.

"It's been a long season for us and to be here now on the podium is special, we've really dragged the car up and learnt a lot. All the teams and all the drivers are very talented and it's brilliant to be involved in this great series."

Second was the No.34 PRO GT by Almeras Porsche of Frenchmen Henry Hassid and Anthony Beltoise.

Duncan Tappy (GBR) and Gregoire Demoustier (FRA) took third in the ART Grand Prix McLaren No.12.

Valentino Rossi, making his second appearance in the Blancpain Endurance, finished ninth in class in the Kessel Racing Ferrari along with compatriots Alessio Salucci and Andrea Ceccato.

Rossi drove the first stint but spent some of it behind the Safety Car after an incident involving the pole-sitting Blancpain Reiter Lamborghini No.24.

Nonetheless the nine-time motorcycle world champion proved his growing GT pedigree by mixing it at the front of the pack.

"I enjoyed the race a lot. I had to slow down for the Safety Car so I was hoping for some more racing time but I intend to do more in the future," he said.

"We will try to organize do some more races next season if we can fit it in the schedule. I really want to thank Kessel Racing for all their help."

In the Gentlemen Trophy, the Exagon Engineering Porsche of Christian Kelders (BEL) Daniel Desbrueres (FRA) scored their second win on the season.

The early exit of the Marc VDS BMW No.3 means that both championships will go to the wire at Navarra, Spain on 13 October.

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