Will Stevens scored a second consecutive podium result for JMW Motorsport when the ex-Formula One driver along with fellow Britons Rob Smith and Jody Fannin claimed second position in LM GTE at the penultimate round of the European Le Mans Series at Spa-Francorchamps today (24 Sep). Will’s only previous drive in JMW’s Ferrari 488 GTE was a class win in the Le Mans 24 Hours three months ago while today’s Four Hour race marked a return to ELMS action for the first time for Stevens since last year’s corresponding Belgian race in which he finished second overall.
Stevens qualified the Ferrari third fastest around the 4.352-mile mjestic Spa circuit while Fannin (two) and Smith (single) completed stints in the race before Will got behind the wheel for the first time with 54mins remaining, Jody and Rob having combined to bring the Ferrari up to second place in class. Will resumed third but with 25mins remaining, was back in to second, a position he held to the flag. Stevens will compete in the sixth and final round of the series at Portimão in Portugal on 22 October aiming to help the JMW team claim LM GTE championship honours. The latest result now sees JMW trail by just one-point in the standings.
Will Stevens (GB): Lives: Surrey, England. Aged 26.
“Our race went well and finishing second brings JMW to within a point of the championship leaders so everything is to play for in Portugal next month. The team made changes to improve the balance after both practice sessions and I qualified third quickest in class, the best-placed Ferrari, which was especially pleasing. There were many Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods throughout the entire race and so a lot depended on luck in terms of being in the right place at the right time. We struggled a little with a handling imbalance during the race and so had to manage tyre degradation quite a bit. But we all can’t wait for Portimão – it promises to be one heck of a fight!”
Source. Martyn Pass Public Relations
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