The first season of the International GT Open has seen an exciting battlebetween the Ferraris 430 and the Mosler MT900R.
After the unexpected and beautiful win in the opening (wet) race in Monza of the Racing Box’s ViperGT3 (which then continued unbeaten in the GTS category), the new racerfrom Maranello, the 430, which gradually joined in numbers the series, hasalways been a serious contender for the overall victory, clinching 6 victories,under the colours of no less than four different teams (Playteam SaraFree,Edil Cris Racing, Victory Engineering and GPC Sport), in the hands of renowndrivers, such as former F.1’s Andrea Montermini, GT experts as MicheleBartyan, Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Bobbi, or young promises as Alex PierGuidi and Damien Pasini. Still, the “old” Ferrari 360 has also managed to takethe laurels in two occasions.
The fierce competition between the various Ferrari teams played in favour ofthe fast and reliable Mosler MT900R of GTA Motor of young Spaniards LucasGuerrero and José Manuel Pérez Aicart, which had their day of glory (twowins) in Istanbul, and fought for the title until the last race. But, with asuperb win in the last, double-distance race in Barcelona, Italy’s MicheleBartyan, on the Playteam SaraFree Ferrari 430, definitively ensured thehonour of being the first GT Open Champion.
The GTB class has seen an even closer situation, with the Ferraris 360 and430 Challenge of teams Giudici (3), Roger (2), Rodrigo (2) and Camino (1)sharing the victories and the Porsche 996 Cup of Castro-García also claiming2 successes.
• Italian GT Open – Monza, 1-2 April 2006(31 entries – 45.000 spectators)
Race 1Overall: 1. Belicchi - Zonca (Racing Box Viper GT3)2. Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT 3)3. Guerrero – Aicart (GTA Mosler MT900R)GTA Winner: Guerrero – Aicart (GTA Mosler MT900R)GTB Winner: Cutrera – A.Larini (Giudici Ferrari 360 Ch.)
Race 2Overall: 1. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)2. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)3. Cressoni – Ruberti (Edil Cris Ferrari 360M)GTB Winner: Santos – Van Zoest (Esc. Roger Ferrari 360 Ch.)GTS Winner: Lancelotti – Cappellari (Racing Box Viper GT3)• France GT Open – Magny-Cours, 29-30 April(31 entries – 65.000 spectators)
Race 1Overall: 1. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)2. Sunberg – Romero (RSV Ferrari 430)3. Guerrero – Aicart (GTA Mosler MT900R)GTB Winner: Cutrera – Giudici (Giudici Ferrari 360 Ch.)GTS Winner: Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2Overall: 1. Ruberti – Cressoni (Edil Cris Ferrari 360)2. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)3. Mowlem – Roda (Autorlando Porsche GT3 RSR)GTB Winner: Robert – Villacieros (Camino Ferrari 430 Ch)GTS Winner: Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT3)• Portugal GT Open – Estoril, 24 – 25 June(50 entries – 15.000 spectators)
Race 1Overall: 1. Montermini – Bastos (GPC Ferrari 360)2. Gião – Amorim (Playteam Ferrari 360)3. Sundberg – Romero (RSV Ferrari 430)GTB Winner: C.Rodrigo – D.Rodrigo (Ferrari 430 Ch.)GTC Winner: Näs – Gil (Eficar Porsche GT3)GTS Winner: Zonca – Belicchi (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2Overall: 1. Ruberti – Bobbi (Edil Cris Ferrari 430)2. Gião – Amorim (Playteam Ferrari 360)3. Gardel – Lambertini (GPC Ferrari 430)GTB Winner: C.Rodrigo – D.Rodrigo (Ferrari 430 Ch.)GTC Winner: Näs – Gil (Eficar Porsche GT3)GTS Winner: Zonca – Belicchi (Racing Box Viper GT3)• Istanbul GT Open – Istanbul, 23-34 September(22 entries – 5.000 spectators)
Race 1Overall: 1. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)2. Pier Guidi – Bartyan (Playteam Ferrari 430)3. Ruberti – Gianmaria (Edil Cris Ferrari 430)GTB Winner: Arlotti – Gini (Giudici Ferrari 360 Ch.)GTS Winner: Özgun – Ak (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2Overall: 1. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)2. Gianmaria – Ruberti (Edil Cris Ferrari 430)3. Gião – Giannoccaro (Playteam Ferrari 360)GTB Winner: Santos – Van Zoest (Esc. Roger Ferrari 430 Ch.)GTS Winner: Özgun – Ak (Racing Box Viper GT3)• Spain GT Open – Valencia, 7-8 October(51 entries – 59.000 spectators)
Race 1Overall: 1. Pasini – Mediani (Victory Ferrari 430)2. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)3. Gutiérrez – Villalba (MC Mosler MT900R)GTB Winner : Castro – García (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)GTS Winner : Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2Overall: 1. Lambertini – Montermini (GPC Ferrari 430)2. Mediani – Pasini (Victory Ferrari 430)3. Bastos – Hernández (GPC Ferrari 360 M)GTB Winner: Castro – García (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)GTS Winner : Zonca - Belicchi (Racing Box Viper GT3)
• International GT Open – Barcelona, 11-12 November(63 entries – 35.000 spectators)Overall: 1. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)2. Mediani – Pasini (Victory Ferrari 430)3. Mowlem – Roda (Autorlando Porsche GT3 RSR)GTB Winner: Nevoa – Van Putten (Marcos Mantis)GTS Winner: Lang – Rich (Ascari GT3)The 2006 International GT Open Champions• Overall: Michele Bartyan (Italy)• GTA: Michele Bartyan (Italy – Playteam SaraFree Ferrari 430)• GTB: Fabrizio Gini (Italy- Giudici Ferrari 360 Challenge)• GTS: Stefano Zonca, Andrea Belicchi, Piergiuseppe Perazzini, Marco Cioci(Italy – Racing Box Viper Coupé) ex-aequo
