Jimmy Eriksson out to position himself for close finale
With two rounds to go of the 2017 Blancpain GT Series season, Jimmy Eriksson currently holds ninth place in the overall championship standings – locked in a close scrap for positions with a host of fellow rivals. This weekend marks the conclusion of the Sprint Cup part of the campaign, with Eriksson heading to the Nürburgring primarily bidding to strengthen his larger-scale case ahead of the ultimate Barcelona season-finale.
Eriksson and Sprint Cup team-mate Dominik Baumann, driving the #86 Mercedes-AMG GT3 fielded by HTP Motorsport, have suffered their fair share of misfortune in Sprint Cup races this year, leaving the duo without realistic hope of fighting for a top position in that particular championship as it concludes in the German Eifel mountains.
In the overall Blancpain GT Series standings, however – formed by the aggregate results of both Sprint Cup and Endurance Cup events – things are looking brighter for Eriksson. Stronger races in the #84 Endurance Cup entry have left the Swede ninth overall heading into the last two rounds; but it’s close. In short, Eriksson could end up anywhere between fourth and 15th in the final classification, making this weekend’s Nürburgring event as important as ever.
“It’s going to be a bit of a special weekend,” says Jimmy Eriksson. “Dominik and I have had a lot of bad luck – that’s really what it’s been – in the Sprint Cup this year, so we don’t really have anything to achieve this weekend in terms of that particular series. Overall, however, I could still end up in a really strong place, so to that end I need a good weekend. It will all boil down to the last round in Barcelona, and heading there in the best possible position will be crucial. For that reason, this weekend is still very important.”
The Barcelona Blancpain GT Series finale takes place a fortnight on from this weekend’s Nürburgring round.
TIME TABLE
Blancpain GT Series | Rd. 9
Sprint Cup | Rd. 5
Nürburgring, Germany
All times local – GMT+02:00
Friday 15/9
Free Practice 1: 09.40-11.00
Free Practice 2: 14.10-15.30
Saturday 16/9
Qualifying: 09.40-10.35
Qualifying Race: 14.00-15.00
Sunday 17/9
Warm-up: 09.15-09.35
Main Race: 15.30-16.30
MEDIA RESOURCES
TV / live stream
All Blancpain GT Series races are broadcast LIVE at www.blancpain-gt-series.com/live, with Eurosport also airing a highlights package in the days following each round.
Live timing
Live timing for each session of the 2017 Blancpain GT Series is available at www.blancpain-gt-series.com/live#live-timing.
Facebook/website
Reports, pictures, results and information will be published at www.jimmyerikssonracing.com and Jimmy Eriksson’s official Facebook page throughout the weekend.
STANDINGS
Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup
For complete standings, click here.
Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup
For complete standings, click here.
Blancpain GT Series – overall
For complete standings, click here.
