A record year as an introduction to a new future in the BMW welcome zone
The season ended with an honorary title of Vice-Champion of France FFSA GT Silver, for drivers and teams, for L’Espace Bienvenue.
Riccardo van der Ende and Benjamin Leyssen are not far from achieving a new milestone, but they can be proud of a record of five outright victories: a unique achievement since the launch of the GT4 category in France in 2017.
This says a lot about the specifications of the BMW M4 GT4 that was presented at the beginning of the year!
Making way for a new sporting project that includes the passage of the Belgian-Dutch duo to the European GT4 series.
The welcome space will still be present in FFSA GT and it has an all-new BMW M4 GT4 to expand its participation in the category.
The team will remain active in the Ultimate Cup Series GT/Touring, in Endurance with the M4 GT4 and in Sprint with its new acquisition: the BMW M6 GT3!
Benjamin Lessinis gave him his first successes at Paul Ricard last weekend.
2023… the year of victory !
2023 marked the sixtieth anniversary of the Bienvenue service station in Royan, which became a BMW and Mini dealership, today with a triple location in Charente and Charente-Maritime.
The model itself corresponds to the 40th anniversary of the first season of André Grammatico and his BMW 323, which ended with the first title in the Critérium des Voitures de Production.
So of course, celebrating another podium finish this year was a welcome one, but four points lost for the drivers and only one point for the team!
But that’s the way it is. This record of five outright victories in the French championship remains a remarkable achievement, and we can add a sixth victory achieved during the team’s only venture into the European GT4 series.
That day, at Spa-Francorchamps, Benjamin and Ricciardo beat another BMW M4 GT4… European Champions!!!
Andrei Grammatico trusts:
“We were surprised by the competitiveness and ease of handling offered by the new BMW M4 GT4. The pilots really loved it. Our five victories in France and the one we achieved at European level against 60 competitors brought us immense joy. Fashion shows are always sublime moments in which we can touch the stars.” “The ones we climbed in Val de Vienne will remain in our memory for a long time because they were obtained in the presence of our guests, clients, friends and agency staff during a weekend full of unexpected, touching and unforgettable moments.”
Higher in 2024!
The 2024 season will blend continuity and progress at L’Espace Bienvenue. Thus, Riccardo van der Ende and Benjamin Lessens remain on board, but they will set out to conquer Europe in GT4, still in the Silver category. They can do it! As an aside, we would like to point out that this European campaign will take place ten years after the “Am” title in the European GT4 Series, which Andrei Grammatico and his team won in 2014!
In the French FFSA GT Championship, L’Espace Bienvenue and its technical partner Racetivity will continue to field a car for Carla Deppard, with a teammate to be identified.
It remains to be invented that the duo will be invited to participate in the new M4 GT4 car, which will strengthen the team’s fleet, and will be able to enter all series that accept GT4 cars that appear in the season program.
STILL ON TRACK IN THE ULTIMATE CUP SERIES
The BMW M4 GT4 cars dominate their class in the Ultimate Cup Series. In UGTC4A (the equivalent of GT4), Régis Rego de Sebes and Daniel Waszczinski dominated the endurance, while Grégory Launier placed Sprint in a structured section.
The welcoming space aims to hold the same two championships in 2024. Alongside the BMW M4 GT4 that will put its endurance title on the line, a rare, captivating and imposing BMW M6 GT3 will take part in the Sprint events.
This model won the 24 Hours of Spa twice, the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the FIA GT World Cup in Macau!
Andrei Grammatico explains:
” We’ve expanded our race car fleet, welcoming a third M4 GT4 and our first GT3. We have an exciting season ahead of us as we will be competing in the two major GT4 championships as well as the Ultimate Cup Series which has been a success for us in 2023. There are still a few positions to fill in the cockpit ! »
So on to your resume, candidates!
François Leroux
Photos: Davy Dillian – Maurice Camus – Jean-Marc Joubert
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