All Set for the Most Special International GT Open Ever

Final work on schedule at the new Valencia Street Circuit

Unprecedented TV Coverage to Bring Event Around the World

« Todo listo », which can be translated as “Everything on schedule” is the most heard sentence these hours in the Valencia Street Circuit, two days ahead of the beginning of the first-ever motoring event in the new Formula 1 track nested in the harbor of the Spanish coastal metropolis.

The final phase of setting up a brand new street circuit (in this case, it would be better defined as a permanent track in town) is always an hectic moment, but everything is under control and proceeding well, and the excitement is rising as we approach the moment, on Friday late afternoon, when racing cars will hit the track for the first time in an official event. The International GT Open and the FIAT Spanish F.3 Championship are the two series that will have the privilege to race first in the new track that will host the European F.1 Grand Prix four weeks from now.

For the International GT Open, this fifth round of the season will certainly be very special. In format, first of all, as GTA (GT2) and GTS (GT3) cars will race separate races, given the nature of the track and the high number of entries attracted (27 both in GTA and GTS). The timetable of the event is also different from usual, with track activity going on mostly in the morning and late afternoon, in order to adapt races to local life and mitigate the effects of summer heat. Around 20.000 grandstands tickets have been sold for the event and expectation is high among Valencians for this new attraction the city can pride of.The attention of the entire racing community, of fans around the globe and of international media is also very high, as proved by the presence of a high number of international journalists and the unprecedented TV coverage this event will enjoy. The event will be broadcasted to more than 60 countries and through the major national and international TV channels, among which Canal +, Canal 9, TDT Popular TV, and many regional stations in Spain, and at international level, by Eurosport, Sport TV (Portugal), Nuvolari (Italy), Motors TV (France), ÖRF (Austria), BeTV (Belgium), the Middle East, Latin America and elsewhere.

As for last changes regarding the entry lists, the main ones concern the GTA category, where Brazil’s F3000 ace Luiz Razia will join the dozen of young stars from GP2 and other single-seater series, driving one of the GPC-prepared Ferraris together with Giacomo Petrobelli (the team’s other car will be in the hands of Giacomo Ricci and Matteo Bobbi), while Jesús Díaz Villaroel is entrusting its F430 to Spanish GP2 star Roldán Rodríguez and to GT Open regular Manuel Sáenz Merino, the youngest driver in the series. In GTS, Austrian S-berg Racing Team has nominated Hans Knauss and Russia’s Vadim Kuzminykh to drive its Lamborghini Gallardo GT3.

VALENCIA STREET CIRCUIT TIMETABLE (ALL TIMES IN LOCAL TIME, CET)

Friday 25 July 200817:00-18:00 Free Practice 1 (GTS)18:20-19:20 Free Practice 1 (GTA)

Saturday 26 July 200809:00-09:45 Free Practice 2 (GTS)10:00-10:45 Free Practice 2 (GTA)12:15-12:45 Qualifying 1 (GTS)13:05-13:35 Qualifying 1 (GTA)15:45-16:15 Qualifying 2 (GTS)16:35-17:05 Qualifying 2 (GTA)18:00-19:00 Pro-Am Race GTS (55’ – Rolling Start)19:30-20:30 Pro-Am Race GTS (60’ – Rolling Start)

Sunday 13 July 200808:45-09:00 Warm-up (GTS)09:10-09:25 Warm-up (GTA)11:00-11:45 GT Open Race GTS (45’- Rolling Start)12:30-13:30 GT Open Race GTA (45’-Rolling Start)