Brendon Leitch returns to Circuit Paul Ricard for the third time this season to compete in the fourth round of the 2023 Michelin Le Mans Cup. Along with teammate Gerhard Watzinger, the pairing will compete in a 110-minute race in the GT3 category driving the #70 Crowdstrike Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2, prepared by Leipert Motorsport.
“I’m looking forward to the weekend,” commented Letich. “I think we should have a strong performance.”
Leitch was last at Circuit Paul Richard in early June, competing in both the 2023 GT World Challenge Europe as well as the opening round of the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (one-make) series.
“It’s the third time this season having both tested and raced earlier in the year,” said Leitch. “I honestly think it is an awesome track and probably the hardest on the calendar. It’s very technical, and the last part is very long and hard to get it right. Straight-line speed is very important as the back straight is very long.”
It’s been two long and tough weeks for the Leitpert Motorsport Team repairing the #70 Crowdstrike Lamborghini Huracán after a nasty accident ended their race in the 24 Hours of Spa.
“The team have done an incredible job with the car being rebuilt and finished just yesterday,” said Leitch. “It had to go back to the Lamborghini factory in Italy and has a whole new rear end put on it. The boys have worked some huge hours to get it ready, so very appreciative of their hard work.
“It’s been on the factory jig, and almost brand-new again, so a quick shake-down and we should be good to go.”
Leitch is expecting a hot afternoon’s racing, with both drivers taking their turn behind the wheel for approximately 60 minutes, depending on their pitstop strategy.
Leitch’s Lamborghini is one of three competing in the GT3 category, which also features Aston Martin, Audi, Ferrari, Honda, and Porsche marques. They will be part of a 42-car grid of mainly LMP3 machinery.
Twenty points split the top five cars in the GT3 championship standings, with the #86 HCR CaffeineSix Porsche of Tim Creswick and Anders Fjordbach having a six-point advantage over their nearest rivals Frenchmen Arnold Robin and Valentin Hasse Clot (#10 Racing Spirit of Léman Aston Martin Vantage). Leitch and Watzinger sit seventh overall in both the driver and team’s points tables.
“There are two other quick Lambos competing, so it will be quite cool to compare how we go with them.”
Qualifying takes place at lunchtime Saturday while racing gets underway at 5 pm local time.
Words & Images: Supplied
