The young Russian Bear pair resists in thrilling finale to the assaults of the other Russian Ferrari (Esta Motorsports) of Pier Guidi-SkryabinBontempelli (3rd with Frezza) joins Pantano-Suzuki in GTS top spotMontermini secures second GT Open title after big fight in the back
It was a day of surprises and a Russian triumph Sunday in Race 2 at Monza, on a wet track formost of the race. In a thrilling finale, the SMP Russian Bears Ferrari F458 of Roman Mavlanovand Pol Rosell took a fantastic win over the Ferrari of the other Russian squad, EstaMotorsport, driven by aleksandr Skryabin and Alessandro Pier Guidi. It’s the first overall winin the GT Open for Rosell and Mavlanov, two of the youngest drivers in the series and for theRussian squad, technically managed by Abel Algué’s Baporo in Catalonia. In another all-GTSpodium, Marco Frezza and Lorenzo Bontempelli (Kessel Ferrari) took third, with the latternow joining Pantano on the top of the GTS standings.
The overall title got mathematically decided in an intense fight between Andrea Mnterminiand Miguel Ramos, at the back of the field. Eventually, the Italian secured two more pointsand the certitude of conquering the title, the second after the one in 2008. “It has been avery tough weekend, especially today when there was some close fighting with Ramos, but Iam very happy”, said the Italian.
As rain starts a few minutes before the kick-off, the race starts with the safety-car. When itfrees the group, Griffin keeps the lead from the pole but breakes long at the Roggia, leavingRigon pass but the Villorba Ferrari is overtaken on the outside at Lesmo by Rugolo, who keepsthe lead for two laps.
By lap 5, Rigon leads over Rugolo, Griffin, Gattuso, Mavlanov, Pastorelli, Beretta, Salaquardaand Skryabin. The track is slippery and there are spins (Cressoni, Coimbra, Talkanitsa) andoff-tracks (Werkman) while Seyfarth almost puts off Frezza and Razia stps on the track with apunctured tyre.
There are not much changes on the top up to the pit stop, which happens with someconfusion as most of the cars come in at the same time (lap 11). After the window, StefanoCostantini leads with 4” over Rosell and Toril, then Cameron, Bontempelli, Pier Guidi, Onidi,and Lyons. The title contenders are further aback, with Ramos in P11 and Montermini in P21.
In the lead, Costantini increases slightly the advantage over Rosell and Toril, whileBontempelli charges up to fourth, then PierGuidi, Onidi, Cameron, Lyons, Sijthoff, Ramos andPantano, with Montermini now 18th. In lap 16, Hamprecht and Sdanewitsch collide atParabolica, with the Ferrari stuck in the gravel and the Lambo getting a drive-through.While Cesar Ramos passes Sijthoff with a great move, Miguel Ramos and Montermini fightdoor-to-door, with the Italian risking to go off at Lesmo but eventually taking the advantage.But the attention in the final laps is all for the fight at the top. Costantini’s rear left tireexplodes three laps from the end (same happens to Toril), leaving Rosell first ahead of PierGuidi that charges like a devil, but the young Catalan keeps cool and takes victory.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER RACE 14 OF 16Overall: 1. Montermini, 225; 2. Filippi, 168; 3. Pastorelli-Ramos, 167; 4. Cameron-Griffin, 133; 5. Sijthoff, 109; etc.Drivers SuperGT: 1. Montermini, 110; 2. Pastorelli-Ramos,84; 3. Filippi, 78; 4. Cameron-Griffin, 74; 5.Talkanitsa sr& jr, Sijthoff, 60; etcGTS: 1. Pantano-Suzuki, Bontempelli, 48; 3. Toril, 39; 4. Rosell-Mavlanov, Lyons-Beretta, 37; etcTeams SuperGT: 1. V8 Racing, 162; 2. Villorba Corse, 110; 3. AF Corse, 65; 4. AT Racing, 60; 5. Drivex, 19; etcTeams GTS: 1. Bhaitech Racing, 81; 2. Kessel Racing, 77; 3. Autorlando Sport, 48; 4. SMP Racing, 1; 5. AF Corse,41; etcConstructors Super GT: 1. Ferrari, 217; 2. Chevrolet, 150; 3. Porsche, 19Constructors GTS: 1. Ferrari, 166; 2. McLaren, 81; 3. Porsche, 48; 4. Mercedes, 39; 5. Aston Martin, 34, etcGentlemen’s Trophy: 1. Talkanitsa Sr, 109; 2. Laursen, 81; 3. Maleev,64; 4. Earle-Kermer, 43; 5. Cordoni, 30; etc
