Lietz-Roda win between Valencia storms

Faultless race and first 2008 victory for the Autorlando Porsche in treacherous track conditionsEdil-Cris Ferraris second and third after strong showCeccato-Visconti give another GTS win to Racing Box’s Lambos

A huge storm in the middle of the afternoon  created  slippery and treacherous conditions for one of the liveliest and most surprising races of the International GT Open. The Pro-Am Race was eventually won by the Porsche Autorlando of Gianluca Roda and Richard Lietz, after a strong performance from both drivers, ahead of the two Edil Cris Ferraris of Frezza-Monfardini and Cressoni-Bontempelli, while in GTS another perfect race from Andrea Ceccato and Marco Visconti gave Racing Box a second victory this season.

Action started on the formation lap, with the Ferrari of Giudici out of the race as it caught fire and was severely damaged. At the start, the track was  humid but everybody wason slicks. Sundberg took the lead but on turn 3 he was pushed out by the SunRed of Pérez-Aicart, who will end in the gravel on the following corner.

That created some confusion among top contenders, while Corradi, Zonca, Cressoni, Alexander also spun in the slippery conditions.

The pace-car was out for four laps in front of Rugolo, first in one of the AE Ferraris. When race resumed Rugolo led ahead of his team-mate Bonetti, Carol, Rosa, Monfardini, Couceiro (soon also out of the race), Maceratesi (who will stop to put on rain tyres, as do other drivers ) and Armetta, the first in GTS.

Later on, when Rugolo and Bonetti start having less grip on the drying track - fighting between each other, young Spaniard Marc Carol was leading at the wheel of the V-Line Ferrari. After the driver change, the two Edil Cris of Frezza and Bontempelli were ahead of Mayola, Geri, Tavano, Lietz, Chacón and Pasini.

Everything was set for a thrilling finale with the Porsche of Lietz charging up towards the lead. The Austrian, with an impressive performance, will make up the 1’30” disadvantage he had, reaching 2nd position on lap 22 and overtaking the leader, Frezza, on lap 28. Similar scenario in GTS with young Andrea Ceccato (who stopped to put on slicks) catching the other Lambo Racing Box of Geri and clinching victory with an impressive 5 th position overall.

Rain was back in the final laps, which see a nice battle among the Edil Cris Ferraris for second and third, an unfortunate spin of Chacón (who was 4 th in the Drivex Porsche) and throttle problems for the AE Ferrari of Pasini.

Handicaps Pro-Am Race:#3 Montermini-Maceratesi (Playteam Ferrari): 25’’#10 Pasini-Bonetti (AE Ferrari): 20’’#21 Frezza-Monfardini (Edil Cris Ferrari): 5’’#57 Wiser-Calella (Villois Aston): 20’’#58 Caccia-Moncada (Mik Corse Lambo): 30’’#65 Cioci-Pellizzato (Twentytwo Corvette): 20’’


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