The #6 Team Need For Speed BMW Z4 Coupé of Edward Sandstrom and Abdulaziz Al Faisal has retained its all-white look for this weekend's fourth round of the 2011 FIA European GT3 Championship: a sensible colour for the heat of the south of France. It's a rapid-fire period of races, with June and July disappearing in a blur of blitzing round Europe, and there just hasn't been time to reapply the intricate wireframe livery between races.
A new logo this season is the big M-Power sticker on the underside of the big rear wing: it's great to see the classic BMW motorsport stripes on the car.
Blue skies are matched by the blue high-grip stripes on the acres of run-off around the iconic Paul Ricard circuit, and the mountain range backdrop adds to the circuit's unique look.
Unfortunately the weekend really hasn't been going well for Team NFS: practice was a trial, as both cars suffered major set-up problems. This put the team on the back-foot for qualifying: seventh and eighth in the first qualifying session for Race 1 was then followed by a disappointing 22nd and 25th in qualifying for Race 2.
Neither car finished the first race this afternoon. Edward started well, but his rear suspension broke just seven laps in; Csaba Walter in #7 only made it another two laps before spinning off.
So, not a great day, but there's the opportunity of the second race tomorrow to try and claw back some points. It's going to be difficult to come from so far back, but all the drivers are fired up after today's disappointments.
At least the cars look great, as ever, so I've uploaded a pack of wallpapers to the Desktops section – more coverage to come!
Jonathan Moore
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
looks wicked.. love the M Power logo addition!