MOTORSPORT: Simmons streaks to highest GT3 finish
Australian driver climbs to 13th position in heavily stacked Blancpain GTAustralia’s Matt Simmons has recorded his best finish in international GT3 competition, following a stellar drive at the weekend's Blancpain GT Endurance Cup race at Monza, Italy.
Partnering with Matt Parry and Struan Moore, Simmons helped steer the team’s GT-R NISMO GT3 to 13th overall after Parry piloted it to sixth position in qualifying.
Simmons, who earned his place in the Team RJN Nissan squad after winning the 2015 Nissan GT Academy competition, started his stint in fifth place, bringing the GT-R back into pit in a credible 11th place.
“It is always challenging in Blancpain. You kind of need all three hours of the race to go your way,” said Simmons.
“The start was in our favour with the big crash and we were fortunate to get through that. Struan (Moore) did an amazing job to get us up to P3 before his stop.
“I was really pleased with my performance. I was in the deep end, but it was great. I really enjoyed it. I feel like I raised myself to a new level and I’m pleased with what I have been able to achieve.”
The Blancpain GT Endurance Cup was taken out by the Lamborghini trio of Mikro Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli and Christian Engelhart.
Simmon’s best previous finish was 22nd place at Silverstone last year.
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