Iberian Supercars GTX: Grant makes series debut with podiums, Mitchell secures overall podium
- RACERS
- 45 minutes ago
- 6 min read
It was a breakthrough weekend for Chloe Grant, who contested double duties for the first time, competing both in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica as well as made her debut in Iberian Supercars at Jerez, driving BMW M4 GT4 machinery to a double podium finish in the GTX class. Gracie Mitchell enjoyed one of her strongest drives at the wheel of the #128 Ginetta and secured an overall podium and second in class. Alba Vázquez fought through misfortunes and technical setbacks that forced her into recovery mode, ultimately missing out on the chance for the title.
The fifth round of the Iberian Supercars Endurance Championship at Jerez de la Frontera saw competitive outings for the female drivers on the grid. Among them, Nerea Martàcompeted in the GT4 field, while in the GTX class several women, including Chloe Grant, Gracie Mitchell, and Alba Vázquez, battled for class podiums across two action-packed 50-minute races.
It was a breakthrough round for former F1 Academy racer Chloe Grant, who made GT racing debut earlier this year in the Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica, and continued her good progression in sports car competitions by contesting a double commitment for the first time, competing both in the Porsche one-make series as well as making her debut in Iberian Supercars, driving BMW M4 GT4 machinery.
Grant made her GT4 debut just a couple of weeks before, racing in a one off in the GT-CER Spanish GT championship, and was now aiming to collect more valuable experience in GT4 - and she delivered a stunning double victory in Porsche Sprint Challenge, then twice climbed the podium in Iberian Supercars with great runs in the two races as she shared the wheel of the #47 BMW with Henrique Oliveira.
After a strong season so far in her first full-time season in Iberian Supercars, Gracie Mitchell enjoyed one of her strongest drives at the wheel of the #128 Ginetta operated by Tockwith Motorsport, shared with Luca Staccini. Mitchell made her debut in the series at Estoril at the end of 2024, where she impressively won her class on debut, and then followed up with consistent class podium finishes in 2025. Mitchell ran at the front in the GTX class in Jerez as well, convincing with a fifth in class in race 1 and a second place and an overall podium in the second race.
Alba Vazquez and Alfonso Colomina had an unfortunate weekend at Jerez; the McLaren duo, who had been very competitive throughout the season in GTX were still in contention for the title but endured a round marred by technical issues and misfortunes. Issues in practice and then qualifying continued with a start from the pit lane in race 1 that forced them into recovery mode, and despite a strong second race, Vazquez and her teammate missed out on the chance for the title.
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Due to the high number of entries at Jerez, the event featured split grids for the GT4 and GTX categories, setting up an exciting weekend of racing. In Q1, Luca Staccini started strongly for Tockwith Motorsport, setting a 1:54.607 early on and then improving to a 1:54.192, ending the session fifth in class. Alfonso Colomina, driving the #22 McLaren, gradually built pace, initially recording a 1:57.423 before improving to a 1:56.389, placing eighth in GTX. Henrique Oliveira, who would share the #47 BMW M4 GT4 with Chloe Grant, set a promising 1:54.384 that would put him sixth in GTX.
In Q2, the female drivers took over: Gracie Mitchell immediately showed pace in the Ginetta, setting a 1:54.767 before improving to an excellent 1:53.950, which placed her third in GTX and fifth overall. Chloe Grant clocked a solid 1:54.928, ending her debut qualifying sixth in class. Alba Vázquez, meanwhile, was just outside the top ten overall with a 1:56.195, placing her ninth in GTX having suffered steering issues.
The first 50-minute race began with Staccini, Colomina, and Oliveira starting their respective opening stints. There was drama on the grid as Colomina’s McLaren suffered issues on the grid and had to be pushed to the pit lane before the start, forcing him to start from the pits.
When the lights went out, Luca Staccini launched well, moving into third in class and fifth overall, while Oliveira ran fourth in GTX. A Safety Car was soon deployed after a collision between the #700 Aston Martin and #126 Ginetta.
Once racing resumed with 33 minutes remaining, Staccini was battling Angel Santos for second in class, before Daniel Teixeira overtook both. Colomina, recovering from his pit lane start, made swift progress through the field, reaching 15th overall and eighth in class after six laps.
At mid-distance, as pit stops began, one of the Cup-class Porsche battling for the overall lead went off and triggered another caution period right during the pit window. At that stage, Staccini held second in class and fourth overall, with Oliveira right behind, and Colomina up into the overall top ten and sixth in GTX.
When the race went green again with 20 minutes to go, the three crews pitted in quick succession. Gracie Mitchell took over the #128 Ginetta, Chloe Grant climbed aboard the #47 BMW, and Alba Vázquez replaced Colomina in the McLaren. Mitchell rejoined seventh overall and fifth in class, slightly delayed by the Safety Car timing. Grant, meanwhile, emerged in third in GTX and within the overall top five, immediately finding competitive pace in the 1:55s. Vázquez resumed in seventh in class and just inside the overall top ten.
Mitchell soon caught Simoes’ #2 Porsche Cayman GT4, pushing hard for position, while Grant started to pull away ahead. Mitchell’s charge was slightly hindered by lapped traffic, losing momentum in the middle stint.
Vázquez overtook Varela’s Ligier for sixth in GTX, continuing her recovery. Ahead, Grant was one of the fastest drivers on track, running laps in the 1:55.1 range and catching the #69 Porsche of Fothergill. With two minutes remaining, she made a decisive move under braking to pass for fourth overall. Grant then gained time on Cacoilo and Iribas ahead, closing to within two seconds of a podium overall as she crossed the line third in GTX, in an outstanding achievement on her Iberian Supercars debut.
Gracie Mitchell finished fifth in GTX, just behind Simoes after a close duel, while Alba Vázquez completed a strong recovery drive in sixth in GTX and tenth overall, after starting from the pit lane.
The second 50-minute race saw Gracie Mitchell start from third in the GTX class, while Chloe Grant and Alba Vázquez followed in sixth and ninth in GTX. At the green flag, Mitchell made a clean getaway but dropped slightly to fourth in GTX behind the leading Porsche Cup cars, while Grant had a superb start, climbing into the top ten overall and retaining sixth in class within the first few laps. Vázquez held steady in eighth in GTX in a clean opening run.
Mitchell soon resumed her fight with Simoes’ #2 Porsche Cayman, this time making the move stick on lap 3 to retake third in class. She quickly closed in on Roche’s #125 Ginetta, reducing the gap by nearly a second. Grant, meanwhile, ran consistently two seconds behind Iribas’ Ligier in sixth.
The race was then neutralized by a Safety Car after contact involving Fothergill’s #69 Porsche, bunching up the entire field. At that stage, Grant was eighth overall and sixth in GTX, with Vázquez in eighth and Mitchell solidly in third in class.
The restart with 28 minutes to go saw Vázquez make a sharp move on Elsworth’s #126 Ginetta to grab seventh in GTX, before catching Grant just as the pit window opened. Both Grant and Vázquez pitted together, handing over to Henrique Oliveira and Alfonso Colomina, respectively. Mitchell stayed out one more lap, cycling in the GTX lead and through to third overall, before pitting for Luca Staccini to take over.
After the pit window closed, a few cars ended up in the gravel, bringing out another Safety Car. Following the cycle, the order saw Camelo leading in the #2 Porsche, ahead of Almeida’s #125 Ginetta, Staccini’s #128 Ginetta, Oliveira’s BMW, and Colomina’s McLaren.
With 11 minutes remaining, racing resumed for a decisive sprint to the finish. Staccini made an immediate move on Almeida at Turn 1 to take second in GTX and third overall, while Oliveira followed through into third in class, with Colomina close behind but under pressure from Santos’ #133 Ligier. Despite intense defense, Colomina held position until the flag.
At the finish, Staccini/Mitchell crossed the line third overall and second in GTX, their best result of the season, while Oliveira/Grant secured third in GTX, marking a second podium in two races for Grant on her debut weekend. Vázquez/Colomina completed the top six in class and finished seventh overall, still scoring valuable points but dropping out of second in the standings, having lost title chances.
Chloe Grant particularly impressed with a strong debut, scoring two wins in Porsche Sprint Challenge Iberica and double podiums in Iberian Supercars, showcasing great adaptability across two different cars. Gracie Mitchell enjoyed one of her strongest events yet with a double top-five finish and an overall podium, while Alba Vázquez fought through misfortunes and technical setbacks, nevertheless proving good determination in her first season in the series and only second year in GT competitions.
The Iberian Supercars Endurance Championship will return for its final round at Estoril, Portugal, on 28–30 November.
