BITTERSWEET END TO THE FANATEC GT WORLD ENDURANCE SEASON BUT AN AMAZING WEEKEND WITH THE FANS
The Circuit of Barcelona-Catalunya hosted the grand finale of the Endurance season, featuring a thrilling showdown with fifty-four cars competing under hot conditions. Even-though Madpanda Motorsport's home race didn't go according to plan due to a mechanical failure, the team is embracing the experience and looking ahead with determination.
Practice sessions showcased significant potential for the 3-hour race, signalling that the Madpanda n°90 would indeed be a contender to be reckoned with. In his qualifying, Ezequiel Companc even managed to secure the Silver class pole position. Starting from fifth on the grid, Alexey Nesov had a strong start, putting the team in contention for a podium finish right from the first lap. Unfortunately their hopes were dashed by a puncture followed by a mechanical failure, preventing them from celebrating a victory on their home track.
The last weekend of September also marked the conclusion of the SRO Esports championship. Our driver and sim-racer, Alexey Nesov, fought bravely for the gold medal but ended up with the runner-up title. Notably, he was the only driver to secure two overall victories.
This home weekend will be remembered by the team for their wonderful interaction with fans. Three fan competitions were organized, allowing them to explore the inner workings of a car garage, participate in a tombola with parts of the Mercedes-AMG GT3, and have a chance to win a personalized tyre. The Madpanda community grew even larger, and the team was thrilled to connect with their supporters.
In the Endurance championship, Madpanda Motorsport finished in fifth place. They began the season with a strong second-place finish in Monza, engaged in exciting battles on track, and gained valuable experience for rookies Gustavsen and Nesov. As for the Sprint Cup, the team is still in the running for third place. The final showdown will take place in Zandvoort on October 14th and 15th.
Alexey Nesov, driver: "It was, of course, not the end of the season we wanted. I took the start and it went pretty well, gained some positions so we were in the fight for the win. But the race ended with a puncture and a mechanical failure. It has been quite an unlucky season but we showed that we deserved to fight upfront. I’m massively thankful for the opportunity the team gave me to represent them this year. It has been a pleasure!"
Magnus Gustavsen, driver: "The last race of the season is done, everyone did a very good job but sadly luck was not on our side this weekend! We fighted so hard and pushed with everything we had but a puncture and a mechanical failure made sure that we did not get the result we deserved. Otherwise, I want to give a huge thanks to the team, every mechanic and all every crew member have done an amazing job all season! Thank you!"
Ezequiel Companc, driver and team principal: "The Endurance Cup is over. Of course, not in the way we would have liked, but we should be proud of what we achieved during the season. Both Magnus and Alexey did an amazing job throughout the year and showed big improvements event by event. The team performed to our expectations throughout the season. I would like to thank our Spanish fans for the amount of love they showed us during the weekend. We can't wait to meet our Dutch fans at Zandvoort for the finale of the Sprint Cup where we will fight for the third place in the championship. Let's finish on a high!"
