Zandvoort is an unusual circuit, being very narrow and not conducive to overtaking. It has a 19% banking (compared to 9% at Indianapolis) and significant elevation changes. Set amid the dunes and very close to the sea, the track surface is often dusted with a thin layer of sand, which can create very tricky conditions. These are all challenges that must be overcome to emerge on top.
Matmut Évolution drivers Hadrien David and Jan Duran (#87) had made an impressive start to the season with two second places in the opening round at the Circuit Paul Ricard and arrived at Zandvoort leading the Silver Cup standings. The female crew of Gabriela Jilkova and Cindy Gudet (#99) also got their season off to a flying start with a podium in France.
Free practice allows drivers to familiarise themselves with the track, which is new to some of them. After a busy session, Hadrien David and Jan Duran (#87) were fourth (P3 Silver), while their teammates Cindy Gudet and Gabriela Jilkova finished in the top eight of Pro-AM in their #99 car.
The pre-qualifying sessions confirmed this encouraging start, with #87 finishing in the top five overall (P4 Silver) and #99 in the top eight of Pro-AM (P27 overall).
The two 20-minute qualifying sessions took place in mild weather (16°C) on a sunny track. Q1 determined the grid for the 22 Silver and 21 Pro-AM and AM cars participating this weekend. Hadrien David set the sixth fastest time (P5 Silver), while Gabriela Jilkova also reached the top five in the Pro-AM class (P20 overall). Q2 was interrupted by a red flag three minutes before the chequered flag. Jan Duran ended it fourth overall and in the Silver class, while Cindy Gudet took fourth place in the Pro-AM class (25th overall).
Race 1 – Double drama!
Clouds, temperatures of 15°C and a cold wind swept across the circuit as the lights turned green. The start was calm, and everyone made it through the first few corners without incident. Hadrien David (#87) got off to a flyer and gained a position, while Gabriela Jilkova also moved up the field, taking her #99 car from P20 to P16, running in the Pro-AM top five.
But this promising start was abruptly halted by a safety car after a collision amongst the pack, followed shortly afterwards by a red flag. The competitors, parked in the pit lane, waited for several long minutes before being allowed to restart.
Finally, the race resumed with just under 50 minutes on the clock and tyres that desperately needed to be brought up to racing temperature. The restart went smoothly for the two Toyota Matmut Évolution cars, which quickly set a strong pace to remain in contention for the podium positions.
At the driver change, the #87 was in P5 (P4 Silver) and the #99 in P5 Pro-AM. Jan Duran and Cindy Gudet were now at the wheel. The battle intensified throughout the grid as the laps ticked by.
With 15 minutes to go, Jan Duran found himself under attack from several determined drivers, all putting pressure on his position. Cindy Gudet also had to fight strongly to hold off her own increasingly urgent pursuers.
With only 10 minutes remaining and valuable points up for grabs, Jan Duran tried to lap an AM class Toyota, but could not avoid contact. The #87 car limped back to the pits with damage to the front bodywork and a punctured front left tyre. The damage is too severe to continue, and the car is forced to retire.
Just four minutes later, there was a dramatic second twist when Cindy Gudet (#99), still in P5 in Pro-AM, was involved in a collision with the #74 at turn 10. Despite ending up in the gravel trap, the Frenchwoman managed to rejoin the track and return to the pits but, like her teammate earlier, was forced to retire.
It was a harsh blow for Matmut Évolution, which saw its lead in the Silver classification slip away after scoring points in neither category.
Race 2 – A wild race and a third Silver podium finish!
For the second and final race of the meeting, the weather is more favourable than the previous day, with the sun shining and temperatures around 16°C.
Starting from the second row in fourth, Jan Duran (#87) is determined to make up for the disappointment of the opening race. Cindy Gudet (#99) is in the same frame of mind from the 13th row (P4 Pro-AM) and has her sights set on scoring valuable points.
Jan Duran made a perfect start, driving incisively to gain a position almost immediately. Cindy Gudet took no unnecessary risks within the pack and made a careful getaway.
Just five minutes after the start, the same scenario as the previous day unfolded, with a collision bringing out the safety car, followed a few minutes later by a red flag (the clock stopped with 52 minutes remaining).
After a 15-minute interruption and a restart behind the safety car, racing resumed. Jan Duran held his nerve and set a strong pace, still in P3. Cindy Gudet also maintained her position in P4 in Pro-AM. With 41 minutes remaining, the race was interrupted again by a Full Course Yellow (FCY), limiting speeds to 80 km/h, which lasted for five minutes.
The #99 was the first of the two Toyotas to pit for a driver change. Gabriela Jilkova took over to tackle the second half of the race. Soon, Hadrien David took the wheel of the #87, determined to earn points that had been cruelly denied his car yesterday. He returned to the track in P2.
The Frenchman quickly picked up speed and extended his lead over the competition while keeping the leader in his sights. He was faster than the car in front and soon closed the gap.
With 20 minutes to go, another FCY reshuffled the deck. The restart five minutes later took the driver of the #87 car by surprise, and he was now under pressure from the #15 Mercedes. Meanwhile, Gabriela Jilkova gained several positions overall (P18), still running P4 in Pro-AM.
With 10 minutes to go, the battle for second was intense. Under attack from the #15, which even made contact on the banking, Hadrien David held his nerve and stayed alert to his opponent's attempted overtaking moves.
Right until the chequered flag, the Matmut Évolution driver exploited the potential of his Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo 2 to resist the #15. All overtaking attempts were in vain and Hadrien David crossed the line in P2 to the delight of the team after an incredible final lap. In the Pro-AM class, Gabriela Jilkova finished fourth (P15 overall).
In the overall Silver Cup standings, Hadrien David and Jan Duran (who was the best rookie in race two) are third with 54 points. Gabriela Jilkova and Cindy Gudet remain sixth in the Pro-AM standings.
The third round of the GT4 European Series will take the protagonists to the Ardennes rollercoaster, the magnificent Spa-Francorchamps circuit, a true temple of GT endurance racing. The two races will take place as part of the 24 Hours of Spa event (26-29 June).