Jaxon Evans claimed a podium in the first round of the European Le Mans series in Barcelona overnight.
The Kiwi was driving the No.77 Proton Competition Porsche in the LME GT class and bounced back from a slow start to finish second in class.
Having qualified on pole, the No.77, driven by Christian Ried, quickly fell to third as the No.80 Iron Lynx Ferrari of Rino Mastronardi charged into the lead.
A safety car to recover a pair of stricken LMP2 cars paused proceedings. Reid would soon lose another spot on the restart to run fourth.
Gianmaria Bruni took command of the helm at the first stop, with the Proton crew able to have the car re-join the race in effective third.
Hunting down the class leaders, Bruni clattered the rear of second-place Ferrari, earning a black-and-white flag for his troubles.
Soon enough, Bruni hit the front but looked to have used the best of his tyre life as he was enveloped by Matteo Cressoni in the No.80 Ferrari. The change of position came at the 100 minute mark with Bruni returning to pitlane to slove a persistent vibration drama.
Ultimately, the drama cost the team valuable time and the No.80 Ferrari was soon a lap ahead of the field.
Reid returned to the driver’s seat for a second stint before Evans brought the car home in second place, 8s up the road from the next car.
The overall victory went the way of Louis Deletraz, Robert Kubica and Yifei Ye in the Oreca 07 – Gibson LMP1.
The second round of the European Le Mans Series will be at the Red Bull Ring in Austria on May 16.
