Michele Beretta took a fantastic third position in the 1000 Km of Paul Ricard (France) at the wheel of the Haupt Racing Team’s Mercedes-AMG GT3 #5. The race ended the season of the GT World Challenge Europe, where the italian driver is also third overall in the Endurance Cup.
Newly champion of European Le Mans Series (GTE class), the driver from Ello was back on track to challenge in the final round of the GT World Challenge Europe, rejoining the line-up that won the Total 24 Hours of Spa in the Silver Cup, composed Hubert Haupt (GER) and Sergei Afanasiev (RUS) while Gabriele Piana (ITA) was not on-site for this race.
During the qualify, Beretta and his team-mates clocked the fifth time in the Silver Cup (23rd overall) and in the race they fought with determination for the podium, crossing the line in third place, so close to the Lexus RCF GT3 of Tech 1 Racing. Beretta’s contribution was decisive to conquer the podium at Paul Ricard, a result that allowed Haupt and Afanasiev to finish the Endurance Cup championship in second position. Despite he didn’t attend the GT World Challenge Europe season completely, with the win at the 24 Hours of Spa and the podium at the 1000 Km of Paul Ricard, finished third in the final ranking of the Endurance Cup.
“The chance to race again with Haupt Racing has been a last minute call, thanks to the good impression I left with the victory at the 24 Hours of Spa. The team made an excellent strategy and we didn’t make a mistake despite we were not so fast in the Sector 2, in the Mistral straight. Without any Safety Car, it was a particularly tight race and in the final stint I recovered a lot on the Lexus in front of us, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to close the gap.” said Beretta at the end.
The podium at the 1000 Km of Paul Ricard and the third place in the GT World Challenge are the last important results of a long series that Michele Beretta achieved in this season, starting from the win at the 24 Hours of Spa, Paul Ricard and Portimao in the ELMS that allowed him to be crowned as champion. Without forgetting the second places in the ELMS (Le Castellet 240 and 4 Hours of Monza) and that one at the 12 Hours of Bathurst.
“In the GT World Challenge I finished third even though I didn’t run the whole championship, thanks to the victory at Spa. During the 24 hours, points are awarded every 6 hours and so I accumulated points that allowed me this good placement in the final ranking. The results gained in the last period are the result of the work carried out throughout the season. I am satisfied with it and I am already working to build a 2021 at the same level.”
