Dylan Pereira faced an especially hectic weekend, splitting his time between the six-hour NLS race at the Nürburgring and the GT World Challenge Europe event in Magny Cours. After completing his stint in Germany, Pereira immediately set off for France, while his teammates Tobias Müller and Patrick Assenheimer celebrated a strong third-place overall finish and a PRO-AM class victory at the Nürburgring.
With that result as motivation, Pereira gave his all in Saturday’s race at Magny Cours. Taking over the Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVOII from German driver Alex Aka, Pereira managed to drive the car up to second place in the Gold Cup class, earning the team a spot on the podium.
However, celebrations were short-lived. Post-race, officials handed the #99 car an 18-second penalty for speeding during a Full Course Yellow, dropping the duo from second to fourth in class and costing them vital points. Had they kept their second place, Pereira and Aka would have closed the gap to just 6.5 points from the Gold Cup leaders.
Frustration was evident on Sunday morning heading into qualifying for the day's second race. Brake problems on the Tresor Attempto Racing Audi prevented Pereira from setting a competitive lap time, forcing the team to start from the back of the grid.
Undeterred, Pereira launched a determined charge from 44th on the grid, avoiding trouble and gaining an impressive 22 positions before a major crash on track triggered a lengthy red flag. Cars were sent back to the pit lane while the damaged vehicle was recovered, the circuit cleaned, and repairs made to safety infrastructure.
When racing resumed, driver changes were still not allowed, so Pereira returned to the car for a few more laps before handing over to Aka. Then, disaster struck: Pereira suffered a left-rear puncture, necessitating a pit stop. Under regulations, Aka was not yet eligible to get in, costing the team valuable time and dropping them to 38th, knowing another stop would be needed. Aka was finally able to take over shortly after, but an issue with the ABS system, likely caused by the puncture, meant the team decided to retire the car rather than risk further problems.
Despite the setbacks, Pereira’s lap times showed the team had speed. On Saturday, he set the sixth fastest lap overall, clocking a 1:38.209 in the 30th lap. On Sunday, Pereira went even quicker, posting a 1:37.230, the second fastest time in the field. The potential was clear, even if luck was not on their side.
Magny Cours could have revitalised Pereira and Aka’s Gold Cup campaign, with second and even first place within reach before misfortune struck. The season now heads to its final two rounds in Zolder and Barcelona. Currently, Tommaso Mosca and Matias Zagazeta lead the Gold Cup standings on 68 points, while Pereira and Aka sit fifth with 45.5 points. With four one-hour races remaining (two at Zandvoort, two at Barcelona), Pereira and Aka still have a mathematical chance to climb the rankings and finish the season on a high.
