BSS: Track limits cost WRT Audi duo second

Laurens Vanthoor and Cesar Ramos have been demoted to third in Sunday's main Blancpain Sprint Series race at Algarve after being deemed to have exceeded the track limits.

The WRT Audi duo made a strong comeback through the field after Ramos dropped from fourth to eighth in the opening phase of the race, before Vanthoor took over and and rapidly closed the gap to the leaders. The Belgian driver began harrying second-placed Jerome Bleekemolen in the Grasser Lamborghini and eventually overtook him on the penultimate lap. That provoked an angry reaction from Bleekemolen, who argued that Vanthoor had not respected the track limits on the corner leading up to the pass.

The incident was investigated post-race and Vanthoor was deemed to have gained an unfair advantage, resulting in the positions being reverted. Bleekemolen and teammate Hari Proczyk – who won Saturday's qualifying race – now go away with second under their belts.

Max Gotz and Max Buhk took a dominant victory for HTP Mercedes.