FFSA GT: Cindy Gudet takes overall victory at Spa Francorchamps
- RACERS
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
After a challenging start to the 2026 FFSA GT season, Cindy Gudet and teammate Joran Leneutre finally converted their front-running pace into a deserved overall victory at Spa-Francorchamps in a dramatic race.
After a frustrating start to the 2026 FFSA GT season, Cindy Gudet and teammate Joran Leneutre finally converted their front-running pace into a deserved overall victory at Spa-Francorchamps in the FFSA GT Championship.
Driving the #078 Akkodis ASP Toyota Supra GT4 EVO, the duo enjoyed one of their strongest performances of the year, claiming a first overall win after leading most of the second stint of the race, only to be penalized with one lap to go to - before the decision was reversed post-race, reinstating their first victory of the campaign.
The result was particularly satisfying after a difficult opening phase of the season. At both Nogaro and Dijon, Gudet and Leneutre had consistently demonstrated the pace to challenge at the front of the Pro-Am field, only for accidents and technical problems to derail their weekends. Despite repeatedly showing podium-worthy speed, the pair had managed to score just a single point from the first four races of the season and arrived at Spa determined to finally secure the result their performances deserved.
The third round of the championship took place at the legendary Spa-Francorchamps circuit, with the FFSA GT Championship sharing the track with both the British GT Championship and Alpine Elf Cup, creating a large and highly competitive multi-class grid for the 2-hour endurance race.
Spa was a venue Gudet knew well, having previously competed there in both GT4 European Series and the Ligier European Series. From the opening test sessions, she immediately looked comfortable around the demanding Belgian circuit.
The Akkodis ASP Toyota proved in fact competitive throughout the weekend. Gudet and Leneutre were consistently among the fastest FFSA GT runners from testing through official practice, regularly featuring inside the top three and often inside the top two overall among the French championship entrants.
Qualifying on Saturday afternoon further confirmed their pace: Leneutre handled the first qualifying session and posted a lap of 2:29.184 in the #078 Toyota Supra GT4, securing fourth overall.
Gudet then took over for Q2 and once again demonstrated her speed, clocking a 2:30.379. The lap ranked third overall and established her as one of the strongest Am-rated drivers in the field.
Combined, the two sessions placed the Toyota second on the grid, just six tenths of a second behind the pole-sitting #004 Race Cars Consulting Alpine GT4 shared by Servol and Jousset.
Sunday's race took place in warm and sunny conditions. Gudet started the Toyota from second position among the FFSA GT contenders and immediately settled into a strong rhythm. At the green flag she maintained second place behind Rudy Servol's leading Alpine and comfortably established herself as the clear second-fastest FFSA GT runner in the opening phase of the race.
While traffic from the combined grid of almost 60 cars created additional challenges, Gudet handled the situation well. She remained solidly in second place and consistently matched the pace at the front.
Twenty minutes into the race, a Full Course Yellow was deployed before escalating into a full Safety Car period. Gudet remained on track, as did race leader Servol. The GT3 field was subsequently waved through before the restart.
When racing resumed, Gudet stayed within one second of the leading Alpine while simultaneously opening a gap of almost four seconds over the cars behind. Her pace remained greatly consistent, highlighted by a strong 2:32.1 lap as she controlled second place.
Another interruption soon followed when the FFSA GT Audi of Rambaud went off at Les Combes, triggering another Full Course Yellow and subsequently another Safety Car period in what was becoming an increasingly chaotic race.
With the pit window opening during this neutralization, Gudet brought the Toyota into the pits from second position. The Akkodis ASP crew completed a clean service, and Leneutre took over for the second half of the race, rejoining still second behind the Alpine, now driven by Leo Jousset.
Following the restart, Leneutre immediately went on the attack: the Toyota seized the lead of the FFSA GT race, giving the Akkodis ASP duo their first genuine shot at victory all season.
Yet another Full Course Yellow interrupted the action when the #008 Toyota of Romeo Leurs became stranded in the gravel at the entry to Blanchimont. Fortunately, the recovery was quick and green-flag racing resumed with 24 minutes remaining.
At the restart, Leneutre held a four-tenths-of-a-second advantage over the #015 Mercedes driven by Ibanez, who had moved ahead of Jousset into second place. What followed was one of the strongest stints of the season from Gudet's teammate.
Lap after lap, Leneutre gradually increased his advantage. While Ibanez and Jousset became locked in a fierce battle for second place, the Toyota steadily pulled away at the front. Their fight even produced a tense moment at the top of Raidillon, further helping Leneutre's cause.
With just five minutes remaining, the Toyota's lead had grown to over six seconds and victory appeared firmly within reach. However, the race took a dramatic turn in the closing stages: race control instructed the leading cars to reverse positions following a restart-related procedure issue. As a result, Leneutre was required to yield track position to Jousset with only one lap remaining.
The decision instantly transformed the race and reduced the comfortable advantage the Toyota had built over the previous laps. Instead of cruising to victory, Leneutre found himself back in a three-way fight for the win on the final lap.
Leneutre crossed the finish line in second place on track - but the race control decision was ultimately reversed post-race, giving Akkodis ASP's Leneutre and Gudet ultimately their first win of the season in a dramatic contest.
After the misfortunes of Nogaro and Dijon, Gudet and Leneutre finally capitalized on their pace and firmly demonstrated that they belong among the championship's front-runners. The strong result also significantly improved their championship position: thanks to the 50 points earned at Spa alone, Gudet now climbs to seventh in the FFSA GT Pro-Am standings.
With momentum finally on their side, Gudet and Leneutre will now head to Magny-Cours on 1-2 August looking to build on their breakthrough victory and continue their climb up the championship order.
