Germany claimed the gold medal in the FIA Motorsport Games’ GT race on Saturday after a dramatic final contest in which it overcame a spirited fight from the United Kingdom.
The UK-flagged AF Corse-run Ferrari started from pole with James Cottingham at the wheel, but Hubert Haupt was on the attack from the word go. The German Mercedes-AMG was alongside on the run towards Turn 2 and muscled past into the corner.
Having dominated his segment of Qualifying, it might have been expected that Haupt would disappear into the distance. But FIA WEC LMGT3 racer Cottingham proved a more than worthy adversary, the two trading purple sectors and running between five tenths and one second apart.
RECAP GT MEDAL RACE
Here’s how that epic #GT contest played out, as Hubert Haupt and Finn Wielbelhaus grabbed the gold
–#FIAMotorsportGames pic.twitter.com/sHK9z5ekfO— FIA Motorsport Games (@fiamgames) October 26, 2024
The United Kingdom lost a little time in the pits, giving Haupt’s teammate Finn Wiebelhaus a few seconds advantage. Chris Froggatt – who took over from Cottingham – made fast work of this and was soon pushing hard for the lead.
Froggatt then earned a five-second penalty for exceeding track limits. He finally found a way past Wiebelhaus with a forceful move on the 45-minute mark, but now needed to gap the German by five seconds.
He gave it everything, but in pushing to make up time Froggatt recieved a second track limits penalty. Wiebelhaus was able to stay close behind, ultimately taking victory once the penalties had been administered.
Switzerland claimed the bronze medal in dramatic fashion as Yannick Mettler passed Jorge Cabezas Catalán (Spain) on the final lap.
The Swiss Mercedes-AMG made major progress during the second half of the race after Dexter Müller ran the opening stint.
There’s more GT action to come today at Valencia on the final day of the games, with the GT Single Make (13:45) and GT Sprint (15:00) races.
Heading into the final day Spain leads the medal table after striking gold in Rally2 Tarmac and Rally4 though a further 16 sets of medals are up for grabs today.
The closing ceremony will take place at 20:30 at the City of Arts & Sciences in Valencia.
Image courtesy of FIA