Clemens Schmid saw his hopes of a final season victory at Monza vanish in a flash of bad luck. The Austrian driver was deep in the fight for the GT3 class lead when a freak incident involving the ASP Akkodis Lexus RC F ended his race prematurely. Debris from Giammarco Levorato's Ford shattered the Lexus radiator, forcing an immediate retirement from a race that promised so much more.
The technical analysis reveals a weekend of 'what-ifs' starting from qualifying. Schmid missed pole position by a mere 0.2 seconds due to a miscalculation in tire pressure management. "During braking, the rear axle kept locking up, and in that process, we simply gave away the pole position," he noted reflectively. The team had high expectations for the race, particularly with a setup optimized for dry track conditions.
Reflecting on the broader season, Schmid highlighted the difficulties posed by the shift to softer tire compounds, which did not favor the aging Lexus platform as much as previous, harder configurations. Despite the struggles, the highlight remained their performance at Le Mans, where the team clawed back from being a lap down to secure a solid fourth-place finish, narrowly missing the podium by 1.5 seconds.
Looking ahead to 2027, the team is entering a period of transition. The delay in receiving their new, homologated machinery proved costly for their competitive standing this year. "It is a shame that the new car was delayed, as we could have achieved much more this season. Monza was the final outing with the Lexus, and while the composition of our driver lineup for the new car is yet to be finalized, I am confirmed to stay with the team alongside Jose Maria Lopez," Schmid explained.
The off-season will be anything but quiet, with a rigorous testing schedule planned for December across Le Castellet and Barcelona. The team is currently navigating the financial requirements for their next campaign while awaiting official confirmation on the 2027 calendar. According to the 36-year-old, the focus remains entirely on securing the necessary support to ensure the new, high-cost machinery can be utilized to its full potential.
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