Starting from 10th on the grid, the crew of the No. 39 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO had a difficult start to the race. A penalty imposed on the very first lap forced the car to restart at the back of the field.
Far from giving up, the crew then embarked on an impressive comeback, driven by a particularly competitive pace, a perfectly executed strategy and flawless pit stops.
A start to the race that seemed to jeopardise the result
The 120-minute race demanded particularly careful tyre management and strategic planning from the teams. With two mandatory pit stops, each one presented an opportunity to gain ground, but also carried the risk of losing precious seconds.
Following the penalty on the first lap, the task was clear for the No. 39 crew: to gradually work their way up the field without compromising tyre life.
The pace set by the Aston Martin quickly enabled the car to rejoin the pack. Lap after lap, positions were regained and the strategy put in place by Comtoyou Racing began to pay off.
A second stint under intense pressure
The second half of the race, however, was to present a new challenge for Baudouin Detout.
As he set off on his second stint, the Frenchman left the pit lane on cold tyres, whilst several of his main rivals already had tyres at optimum temperature.
A particularly tricky situation at the Salzburgring, where the opening laps of a stint can quickly make all the difference.
Baudouin then had to deal immediately with intense pressure from behind, whilst taking care not to overwork his tyres during this critical phase.
The pressure is at its peak, but the United4Racing driver is holding his own perfectly.
Once the tyres had warmed up, the pace of the No. 39 Aston Martin gradually increased. Baudouin then managed not only to defend his position, but also to build up a comfortable lead over his pursuers.
A comeback built on pace and pit stops
Behind this third-place finish lies, above all, a team effort.
Comtoyou Racing’s two pit stops went off without a hitch, enabling the Aston Martin to emerge from each one in a favourable position.
Combined with the crew’s sustained pace and clever tyre management, these pit stops turned what was initially a very precarious situation into a genuine chance of a podium finish.
Starting from 10th on the grid, then dropping to last after a penalty on the first lap, the No. 39 car eventually fought its way back up to third place.
A comeback full of character that confirms the momentum built up a few weeks earlier at the Nürburgring.
Another podium finish following the victory at the Nürburgring
This latest result confirms the consistency of the Detout/Day duo and Comtoyou Racing in the second half of the season.
Following their first victory in the ADAC GT Masters at the Nürburgring, this podium finish at the Salzburgring once again recognises the hard work put in by the whole team and demonstrates the competitiveness of the No. 39 Aston Martin Vantage GT3 EVO.
But beyond the raw result, it is the manner in which this was achieved that will particularly catch the eye: starting from P10, dropping to last place on the very first lap and fighting back to the podium in 120 minutes is a testament to the crew’s speed, strategic mastery and determination.
“This podium really feels like a victory. After the penalty on the first lap, we were last and we just had to keep believing. The car had great pace and the team did an incredible job with the pit stops. When I got back in the car for my second stint, starting on cold tyres against rivals who were already on warm tyres was a very intense moment. I had to manage the pressure without taking any unnecessary risks. Once the tyres were in the right window, I was able to push hard and build up the gap. Coming back from last place to P3 is a superb reward for the whole team.”
With this latest performance, Baudouin Detout and Comtoyou Racing continue their upward trajectory in the 2026 ADAC GT Masters season, now with a clear objective: to keep battling at the front right up until the final chequered flag.
United4Racing