FIA GT
Courtesy of DPPI/FIA GT
The new for 2006, Saleen S7R has proven itself with its' first win in the FIA GT Championship. The Saleen, run by Zakspeed was dominant in the corners, winning by over one minute. The straights, however was a different situation.
"I'm really happy to be here in the first place. At the beginning of the race, [Andera] Piccini, in the Aston Martin was a little bit quicker then me, I could see that on the straight he had a big advantage, so it was not easy to overtake him" said a delighted Jarek Janis after the race.
It showed, however how good the Saleen was in the corners. Once Janis and partner Sascha Bert were in the lead, they pulled away from the field.
The race behind was tight, however, with second, third and forth covered by three seconds.
The Phoenix Racing Aston Martin, lead BMS (Aston Martin) with the Maserati MC12 of Vitaphone Racing just missing the podium.
There were first points too for the B-Racing squad and their Lamborghini Murcielago. This car has come a long way since the FIA GT first saw it a few years back.
Courtesy of DPPI/FIA GT
The GT2 class was won by the JMB Racing squad of Tim Sudgen and Iradj Alexander-David. The fight to the GT2 win was epic.
Four cars were fighting for the lead of the race (#59 AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT2, #62 Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari, #63 Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari, #55 JMB GruppeM Ferrari 430 GT2 (the winner)).
Soon though there was only one car left as the #59 and #62 cars collided and the #63 fell back with tire problems, leaving the JMB Ferrari to take the win.
"It was an amazing race… ten minutes before the end of the race I wanted to go back to the truck to get out of my overalls, because I was sure that we were going to finish 4th! And then I changed my mind and went back to the garage and I saw that we were 3rd! It was an incredible finish, Iradj did a great job at the end, and we are very very pleased." said Tim Sudgen after the race.
His words barely do justice to the excitement of the race.
The only G2 runner, Gillet Vertigo finished 47 laps off the leader and was the last car running at the finish.
The full results are as follows:
1. Bert/Janis Zakspeed Racing Saleen S7R 3hrs 00mins 22.759secs GT1 88 laps
2. Deletraz/Piccini Phoenix Racing Aston Martin DBR9 +1m 00.808s GT1
3. Gollin/Babini Aston Martin Racing BMS Aston Martin DBR9 +1m 02.622s GT1
4. Bartels/Bertolini Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 +1m 03.324s GT1
5. Pescatori/Ramos Aston Martin Racing BMS Aston Martin DBR9 +1m 50.726s GT1
6. Kox/Bouchut B-Racing RS Line Lamborghini Murcielago +1 lap GT1
7. Davies/Biagi Vitaphone Racing Maserati MC12 +1 lap GT1
8. Sugden/Alexander-David JMB Racing Ferrari 430 GT +4 laps GT2
9. Collard/Riccitelli Ebimotors Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +4 laps GT2
10. Bobbi/Melo AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT +4 laps GT2
11. Bennet/Mullen Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GT +4 laps GT2
12. Moccia/Busnelli Ebimotors Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +5 laps GT2
13. Salo/Aguas AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT +5 laps GT2
14. Longin/Kumpen/Hezemans GLPK-Carsport Corvette C6.R +7 laps GT1
15. C.Ried/Felbermayr Jr Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +7 laps GT2
16. Gosse/Kutemann JMB Racing Ferrari 430 GT +7 laps GT2
17. Lichtner-Hoyer/Gruber Race Alliance Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +7 laps GT2
18. Felbermayr/G.Ried Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +8 laps GT2
19. Konopka/Rosina Autoracing Club Bratislava Porsche 996 GT3 RS +8 laps GT2
20. Kinch/Kirkaldy Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari 430 GT +9 laps GT2
21. Kaufmann/Moro Renauer Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +9 laps GT2
22. Knauss/Jurasz/Valek Renauer Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3 RSR +21 laps GT2
23. Leinders/Kuppens Belgian Racing Gillet Vertigo +47 laps G2
Not Classified:
DNF. Balfe/Derbyshire Balfe Motorsport Saleen S7R 53 laps completed GT1
DNF. Wendlinger/Peter Race Alliance Aston Martin DBR9 41 laps completed GT1
Vonka/Model Vonka Racing Porsche 996 GT3 RS 0 laps completed GT2