Iberian Supercars: Gracie Mitchell, Alba Vazquez claim GTX class podiums in Jarama
- RACERS
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
The second round of the 2025 Iberian Supercars Endurance series was a highly positive one for the female drivers on the grid, as both Gracie Mitchell and Alba Vázquez secured podium finishes in the GTX class in the first race at Jarama.
The second round of the 2025 Iberian Supercars Endurance series was a highly positive one for the female drivers on the grid, as both Gracie Mitchell and Alba Vázquez secured podium finishes in the GTX class in the first race at Jarama.
Mitchell, who made her series debut at last year’s season finale in Estoril, immediately showcased her speed in the Tockwith Motorsport Ginetta by claiming her maiden racecar victory on her first appearance. Returning for a full campaign in 2025, she partners Luca Staccini in the Ginetta G55. The pair had a solid start to the season at Portimão, with fifth and fourth-place finishes in class.
Also racing in the GTX class this year is Spaniard Alba Vázquez, who stepped into GT competitions last year in the highly competitive GT Cup Europe championship with Mertel Motorsport as part of an all-female duo. After previously racing in national touring cars, Vázquez is now taking on a new challenge in the #22 McLaren 570S GT4 operated by McLaren Barcelona by SMC Motorsport, alongside teammate Alfonso Colomina Fajardo.
The duo had a stellar start to the season: on her debut, Vázquez secured a class victory at Portimão in a chaotic first race, then returned to the podium with a second place in Race 2—placing the pairing firmly in the GTX class title fight.
At Jarama, track action began on Friday with free practice, and both teams had a productive day, fine-tuning setups and showing strong pace among the GTX field ahead of Saturday's qualifying.
Q1 took place on a hot Saturday afternoon, with track temperatures over 30°C. Gracie Mitchell was behind the wheel of the #128 Tockwith Motorsport Ginetta, while Alfonso Colomina took driving duties in the #22 McLaren.
The session was briefly red-flagged early on but resumed with 8 minutes remaining; Mitchell set a strong lap of 1:42.200 to go third in GTX, but was narrowly beaten by Colomina, who clocked a 1:42.120 to take P3 in class—Mitchell ending Q1 in fourth.
In Q2, Alba Vázquez took over the #22 McLaren, initially posting a 1:43.1 before improving by a tenth to hold sixth in class. Luca Staccini drove the #128 Ginetta, placing seventh initially. A second red flag interrupted the session with 4.5 minutes remaining.
Once running resumed, Vázquez put in a great effort to improve to 1:42.581, moving up to fourth in GTX. Staccini remained seventh in class at the end of Q2.
Jarama hosted the first 50-minute race of the weekend on Sunday morning. Colomina started second and Mitchell third in GTX class.
Mitchell got a great launch in the #128 Ginetta, moving up to P2 in class and 14th overall, overtaking Colomina’s #22 McLaren and tucking in behind Alejandro Iribas in the #133 Ligier JS2 R.
By lap 2, Mitchell was the fastest in her class and overtook Iribas for the GTX lead on lap 3, breaking into the 1:42s pace and pulling away. Meanwhile, Colomina slipped to fourth as Ruben Silva (#47 Monteiros BMW) moved into third. Colomina soon came under pressure from the #19 BMW and the #69 Porsche—not class rivals, but the battles pushed him down to 17th overall.
Mitchell continued to run consistently in the 1:42s and built a 3-second lead by lap 10. She extended her stint as the pit window opened and cycled up to fourth overall, maintaining the class lead.
Colomina also extended his stint, moving up to second in GTX and into the overall top five by lap 14.
After the pit stops, Luca Staccini took over the #128 Ginetta but lost the class lead due to a 5-second pit stop handicap. Alba Vázquez took over the #22 McLaren and rejoined in third.
The safety car was deployed on lap 17, neutralizing the race. The caution period helped Vázquez, as she had been lapping faster than her class rivals before the interruption and thus had the chance to catch up quicker.
The race resumed with 10 minutes to go. Vázquez unfortunately lost a position on the restart, dropping to fourth, while Staccini held on to second in GTX.
Vázquez settled into a rhythm in the 1:45s, now defending from Borja Hormigos in the #40 BMW. With 6 minutes remaining, she continued to hold her position.
Staccini delivered a solid stint with laps in the 1:42.9 range, maintaining a 3-second gap over Henrique Oliveira in the #47 BMW. Despite pressure, Vázquez held off Hormigos and retained fourth. Then, on the final lap, Oliveira’s BMW encountered an issue and pitted—handing third in GTX to Alba Vázquez, securing her third podium in as many races.
Gracie Mitchell and Luca Staccini finished second in GTX and 11th overall, with a particularly impressive commanding first stint for Mitchell.
In the second race of the weekend, Vázquez started fourth in GTX and 18th overall in the #22 McLaren, while Staccini started sixth in class in the #128 Ginetta.
Staccini had a great start, moving into third in GTX. Vázquez had a trickier getaway, dropping to seventh before going off into the gravel at Turn 1 on lap 2 while avoiding two cars ahead. She rejoined at the back, in 27th overall.
A red flag was brought out soon after when Bernardo Pinheiro’s #6 Speedy Motorsport Porsche went off heavily into the barriers. The driver was unharmed, and repairs delayed the restart.
The race resumed with 39 minutes left, behind the safety car. Staccini ran third in GTX behind the sister Tockwith car of Simon Moore. Vázquez began her recovery, climbing to P21 overall and seventh in class as she hunted down the #40 BMW of Héctor Hernández.
At the pit window, Staccini handed over to Mitchell, who rejoined fifth in GTX after serving the mandatory pit stop. Vázquez handed the #22 McLaren to Colomina from seventh in class, 23rd overall.
Mitchell was again on a charge: she cleared her GTX rivals, passed Moore, and was up to second by lap 14, showing front-running pace. However, the Ligier of Iribas was 3.5 seconds up the road and also lapping quickly.
Colomina passed Steve Kirton for P6 in class and began closing in on Ruben Silva for a top-five position.
Mitchell looked set for another podium before misfortune struck: the Ginetta G55 came to a halt with a technical issue. Though she attempted to restart, she dropped multiple laps and fell to the back, ultimately retiring.
Colomina passed Silva and, with Mitchell out, moved up to fourth in GTX. A red flag with 3 minutes to go—caused by multiple cars going off—brought the race to an early end.
Alfonso Colomina and Alba Vázquez were therefore classified fourth in GTX and 16th overall, rounding out a strong recovery.
It’s been a remarkable start to the season for Alba Vázquez, who now has three podiums from four races, including a win, placing her and Colomina at the top of the GTX standings with 65 points.
Despite the DNF in Race 2, Gracie Mitchell also enjoyed a very positive weekend at Jarama. With a podium in Race 1, the first of her season, she now sits fourth in the class standings with 47 points.
The next round of the Iberian Supercars Endurance season will take place at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia on 13–14 September.
