FORMER Marlborough College student Alessandro Latif has claimed the Blancpain Sprint Series Pro-Am title in his debut season with two races still to run.

Another brace of Pro-Am class race victories in the latest rounds of the Blancpain Sprint Series in Belgium last weekend earned the young Briton the silverware.

The 18-year-old and co-driver Marc Basseng, of Germany, also recorded 15th and 16th overall placings in their Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra – despite Alessandro making his debut on the historic 10-corner, 2.5-mile Zolder track.

The duo began the weekend with a healthy 27-point lead in the Pro-Am category but now enjoy an unassailable 61pt advantage with just two races remaining in Azerbaijan.

Latif and Basseng, who are racing together for the first time this year, have now won the Pro-Am class on eight occasions this season.

“Both races were very tough for Marc and I but it’s good to have clinched the Pro-Am title,” commented Latif.

“The balance of the Audi was never particularly to our liking throughout the weekend which effected our ultimate pace and prevented us from challenging for top overall placings.

“The Phoenix team will examine the data next week back at its base close to the Nürburgring.”

Latif started the Qualifying race on Saturday afternoon 16th on the 25-car grid while his German co-driver brought the Audi home 15th – first in class.

Basseng began the one-hour Main Race on Sunday from 14th on the grid and was amongst a six-car battle for 10th place with Latif ultimately finishing 16th and again first in the Pro-Am class to wrap up the title.

Alessandro continued: “I found myself stuck behind a BMW in the opening race but because of our lack of pace, was unable to get passed.

“We tried a different set-up for Sunday’s race but the outright speed was still lacking. These things happen time to time but we’ll be looking for an improvement so we can sign off in style in the final races.”

The final two Blancpain Sprint races are staged at Baku in Azerbaijan over November 1-2.