Lance Stroll looks back positively on his eventful GT3 adventure at Paul Ricard. Last weekend, the Canadian competed during the opening round of the GT World Challenge Europe. Due to the cancellation of the Bahrain GP, the Aston Martin driver seized the opportunity to gain extra kilometers outside of Formula 1, although his performance was challenging; the Comtoyou Racing team ultimately finished 48th after a series of technical problems and heavy time penalties.
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Stroll only started his stint late in the race, when the chances of a good result were already lost. Moreover, he drove his part of the race in the dark, under conditions in which he had little experience. Nevertheless, Stroll managed to impress with his speed and even recorded the eighth fastest time during his stint.
Leaves you wanting more
“I enjoyed my debut in the Aston Martin Vantage GT3,” he said. “Even with limited preparation, I felt good in the car and the pace was promising. I was one of the fastest during my stint and with every lap I felt more comfortable in the car and improved my lap times.” However, more than 48th place was not possible for the team, partly due to a series of costly time penalties. For example, teammate Mari Boya was held responsible for causing a collision, for which he received a stop-and-go penalty. There was also a time penalty for ignoring blue flags. In addition, the Aston Martin crew received several penalties for exceeding track limits.
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“Of course, the race – due to multiple problems – was basically over when I started my stint,” Stroll admitted disappointedly. “Nevertheless, it was great to race here and also gain experience at night in this very competitive championship. I want to thank the team for this opportunity and for giving us a fast car. It was fantastic!” The GT3 outing also left him wanting more. “I had a lot of fun and I look forward to racing GT again soon,” he assured. “We will see when the calendar allows it, but I look forward to getting back in this car soon.”
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