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WRT Audi eyes stand-in for Vanthoor after Misano Blancpain GT crash

WRT Audi will replace Laurens Vanthoor in its lead Blancpain Sprint Series entry at next weekend's Zandvoort finale if the Belgian is unfit after his crash in Misano's qualifying race

Team boss Vincent Vosse explained that he would be working on a plan B this week in case Vanthoor is unable to take up his place alongside Robin Frijns in the championship-leading #1 WRT Audi R8 LMS ultra.

"The first thing is to think of Laurens' health and then to find a way to have another car, which should not be a problem," he told AUTOSPORT.

"We must concentrate on today's race and then we will start thinking about Zandvoort.

"But it is clear that we need a back-up plan and we will definitely be ready whatever happens."

Vanthoor is already recovering at home after being driven back to Belgium while sleeping in a motorhome following the accident in Saturday night's race.

The Belgian driver tweeted: "It will be very difficult but being in Zandvoort will be the goal... Won't give up on that title so easy."

WRT duo Vanthoor and Frijns will go into the Zandvoort event with a lead in the championship whatever happens in Sunday's main BSS race at Misano: they have a 26-point advantage over the HTP Bentley crew of Vincent Abril and Maximilian Buhk.

The #1 Audi has been hit with a five-place grid penalty at Zandvoort for Vanthoor's role in the accident with Jules Szymkowiak, who was racing the second HTP Bentley Continental GT3 together with Max van Splunteren.

Vanthoor, who started from the pitlane after an engine change between qualifying and the first race, tangled with Szymkowiak 15 minutes into the race as he was coming through the field.

He got a better run out of Turn 6 and was moving alongside the Bentley on the kink on the back straight when Szymkowiak moved over on him.

Vosse said said that he did not want to make a judgement on the accident, but stated that it was clear that Szymkowiak had "had made a mistake [at the previous corner] and tried to squeeze Laurens".

VIDEO: RACE HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDING VANTHOOR CRASH

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