BSS: Buhk and Gotz dominate in Portugal

Max Buhk and Max Gotz extended their advantage at the top of the Blancpain Sprint Series championship by winning the main Algarve race, amid controversy in the battle for second.

After poleman Hari Proczyk was passed by Gotz in the early stages, the HTP Mercedes sprinted clear and was never challenged at the front of the field. The Grasser Lamborghini of Proczyk was comfortable in second until the closing laps, when Jeroen Bleekemolen had taken over at the wheel.

WRT Audi driver Laurens Vanthoor was closing in, and on the penultimate lap he passed the Lamborghini into the Turn 5 hairpin to claim second for himself and Cesar Ramos. Bleekemolen was furious, claiming that Vanthoor had exceeded track limits at the previous corner, in order to carry more speed and make the pass.

"We are treated like children in free practice when nothing matters, being told how to drive within the white lines, but then when there's prize money and championship points at stake, they don't seem to care," declared Bleekemolen.

The incident will be investigated, but as it stands Gotz has a 26-point lead over the Grasser pairing, with just two rounds remaining.

Stephane Ortelli and Fabien Hamprecht showed impressive pace to climb from 17th on the grid to finish fourth, ahead of the G-Drive branded Reiter Lamborghini of Tomas Enge and Roman Rusinov.

Rene Rast and Markus Winkelhock had an enthralling battle in their WRT and Phoenix Audis, respectively, with Rast prevailing to hold on to sixth position.

An eighth-place finish was enough for Marc Basseng and Alessandro Latif to win the Pro-Am class, while a high attrition rate in the Silver Cup meant David Fumanelli and Stefano Colombo were victorious in their ROAL BMW, despite finishing in 15th position.

Results - 33 laps: