The Valencia-born driver and his teammate Mathijs Bakker achieved two podiums finishes in the opening round of the Spanish GT series, which took place at Circuit de Valencia last weekend. The Buggy Experience Racing Team-entered Ginetta G55 showed competitiveness over the weekend.

Javier Ibrán and Buggy Experience Racing Team kicked off their season in the Spanish GT Championship, with the Spaniard setting the goal of defending his title last year at the wheel of the Ginetta G55. Teaming up with Mathijs Bakker, Ibrán played a major role in the G2 class at his home event.

Buggy Experience Racing Team worked on Ginetta set-up changes during free practice sessions as the car experienced some problems in Euro Nova by Race season opener. And that effort yielded its fruit. After the two free practice sessions, when Ibrán already finished in the top-three of his class, both qualifying sessions would be the first touchstone for the team. Ibrán qualified the Ginetta in Q1 setting a fastest lap time of 1:44.038, taking 4th place, and later Holland´s Bakker posted pole position time with a lap of 1:43.192.

In Race One, Ibrán moved gradually through the field, gaining several places, and then pitting after ten laps to hand over the Ginetta to Bakker. The Dutch pilot moved up to second behind Toni Castillo and Desiré Torres In the second half of the race, stepping up on the podium. Bakker turned the tables in race two, despite he was passed by Castillo during his stint. With Ibrán driving the British GT car again, Torres was out of reach so the Spanish-Dutch duo came second behind the female racer and his teammate Castillo, also driving a Buggy Experience Racing Team Ginetta. “It was a great weekend for us, and this time the car worked perfectly. Besides pit strategy was a major factor in Valencia and it played to our strengths. A double-podium finish at home is nice because Castillo/Torres were rather strong this weekend. They completed a perfect weekend, quick and faultless. But we are ready to fight at Jarama at the end of this month”, Ibrán summarized.