A new face for the last outing for the Hexis Racing Team

In 2012, the Hexis Racing team emerged victorious in the first City Challenge in the streets of Baku, and it’s common knowledge that the French squad is at a turning point in its history. However, it is coming back to Azerbaijan absolutely determined to write one of the greatest pages in its glorious history. Will it be the final chapter of a fantastic saga or the start of volume 2? The only thing that’s sure is the determination each team member feels to get out there and get stuck in in what is the final throw of the dice of the season.

The greatest GT sprint race of the year?

A quick look at the entry list of teams and drivers for the final round of the FIA GT Series gives the impression that there are as many favourites for victory as there are entries! City street races are nearly always full of upsets, and the fact that none of the belligerents can test in Baku adds even greater uncertainty to this type of race, which makes forecasting the outcome like looking for a needle in a haystack! Last year the Hexis Racing McLaren driven by Fred Makowiecki and Stef Dusseldorp won and the French squad almost pulled off a double. But this experience doesn’t confer a decisive advantage as the 4.380-long circuit for this year’s event is very different and much longer and quicker.

Driver no. 50

To tackle this world challenge Hexis Racing can count on a top-class driver line-up consisting of Rob Bell (34) and Kevin Estre (25). This weekend, the latter will become the 50th driver to get behind the wheel of a Hexis Racing car since the team was founded in 2002.

Bell is a double GT2 champion in the Le Mans Series and he was already part of the Hexis line-up in Baku last year. He qualified on the front row for the main race with Alvaro Parente before being obliged to retire 11 laps from the end with gearbox problems. The Brit is one of the McLaren works GT drivers, and he is also taking part in the FIA World Endurance Championship in an Aston Martin.

Kevin Estre was taken on by the team after a promising test session at the end of October on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit where he was able to get to know the McLaren MP4-12C GT3, his team-mate Rob Bell, and the whole Hexis squad. The French driver won the French Porsche Carrera Cup in 2011, finished second in the Supercup in 2012 and clinched the eagerly sought-after German Porsche Cup title this year. He has won a total of 38 races in these three championships since the debut of his career as a Porsche driver. In July, he dominated his rivals on the Norisring city circuit, which shares certain characteristics with the Baku layout.

The final battle?

The McLaren bearing the number 27 left for Germany last week while the car and the team are flying to the Azerbaijan capital, today, Tuesday. Team manager Philippe Dumas sets the scene as this race unlike any other approaches: “We’re ready. The team’s well rested, trained, determined, confident and relaxed for what, as things stand at the moment, will certainly be our last battle together!”

Belgian Audi Club