- Edil Cris dominates Race 2 in GTA category with its new 430- Racing Box Vipers unbeaten in GTS- The Rodrigo brothers win the GTB race

Estoril, 25 June 2006

It was a cloudy day in Estoril, but action shone in the track for the Race 2 of the Portugal GT Open. Edil Cris obtained in GTA its second win of the season, this time with their new Ferrari 430, as Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Bobbi dominated a very lively race, where the Racing Box’s Vipers obtained their sixth success in the series.

In a GTB race equally disputed, Daniel and César Rodrigo won with their Ferrari 430 Challenge. After 3 events and 6 races, the overall standings of the International GT Open are closer than ever, as five drivers are in five points. Next event will take place in Istanbul on 23-24 September.

RACE 2 GTA + GTB

Matteo Bobbi, on the Edil Cris Ferrari, takes the best start from the pole but a few corners later it is the astonishing Marcos of Miguel Cristovão that takes the lead, ahead of Bobbi, the Bengala Mosler of Guerrero and the Escudería Roger Ferrari 430 of Diaz. These two cars get tangled at the end of the straight in lap 1, with the 430 spinning. The battle for the first two positions between Cristovão and Bobbi is absolutely beautiful and lasts until lap 7, when the Italian manages to overtake the Portuguese in the hairpin and flies away at a pace of 8 tenths a lap.

Behind, it is also superb fighting between Guerrero, the Playteam Sarafree Ferrari 360 of Maceratesi and the Sun Red Seat Cupra Gt of Jordi Gené. Few seconds behind, it is also great show, with the 360 Modenas of Amorim (Playteam), Montermini (GPC Sport) and Cressoni (Edil Cris) and the Motor Competición Mosler of Villalba.

The pit stops for diver change start in lap 12. When all cars resume the race, Ruberti has a 4 seconds lead on Euser, followed by Aicart, Gião and Gardel in full battle at 33”, De Castro (Drivex Porsche) at 41”, Roda (Autorlando Porsche) at 43” and Bartyan (Playteam Sarafree Ferrari) at 53”. This last car had to start the race from the end of the grid, because a steward’s decision following the incident it was involved in in Race 1.

The last laps see a big battle for fourth position, with Aicart spinning in lap 25 (the Mosler’s aerodynamics were damaged in the collision at the beginning) and Gardel passing Gião.This fourth place was to become third, as the marshalls imposed a 1 lap penalty to the Marcos that crossed the line second for not respecting the minimum time for the driver change. A similar sanction is applied to the BMS Scuderia Italia Aston Martin of Maluccelli-Zani, that finished third in the GTS class. The fight had been intense also in this class, as at four laps from the end Zani managed to take the lead from the Racing Box Vipers of Zonca and Cioci, but was overtaken shortly after by the two dark blue coupés.

RACE 2 GTB + GTC

At the start, Santos on the Escudería Roger Ferrari jumps from the third row to fight for the lead with the Sande e Castro Sport Porsche of Cruz in the braking of the first corner, where contact between the two is unavoidable. Behind, it is also lively with the Marcos of Sandra van der Sloop and the Camino Ferrari of Robert spinning and hitting the barriers separately.

On lap 3, because of a damaged rear wheel, spins in the straight hitting the wall, which brings the safety-car in the track for four laps. At the re-start, Castro leads, chased by Cruz and Daniel Rodrigo. The Portuguese attempts to pass the Spaniard but the two Porsches collide and retire. Rodrigo inherits the lead but it is the Marcos of Novoa, who started last and now runs a close second, that is in best position as the Ferrari has a 45” handicap. Still, Novoa attacks Rodrigo, passes him and loses the lead few seconds after when lapping a Ferrari. After the driver change, Van Putten leads but spins soon after, having to let Lloveras and César Rodrigo pass him.

The Ferrari, despite the much longer stop, will re-take the lead on lap 16 while the final laps see Spanish veteran legend Kuru Villacieros storming through from fifth and passing Ardigo, Van Putten and Lloveras to finish second, only five seconds behind the winner.

International GT Open overall standings (unofficial):

1. Pier Guidi and Bartyan, 81 points3. Ruberti, Pérez-Aicart and Guerrero, 796. Belicchi, Zonca, 718. Perazzini, Cioci, 5810. Cressoni, 53