• Second event of the year attracts 41 entries• Aston Martin Dbrs9 back with new Villois Racing• French team Sofrev-ASP enters three cars• Peter Terting joins Sun Red

Sailing and magnificent boats will not be the only reason to pay a visit to Valencia next week. The beautiful and lively Mediterranean city which is currently hosting the final phase of the prestigious America’s Cup, will also vibrate thanks to exciting super-cars, as the International GT Open makes its second stop of the season in the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana “Ricardo Tormo” in Cheste.

Following the opening event in Vallelunga, the International GT Open is back to one of its favorite tracks in what will be an exciting racing weekend, as fans will have the opportunity to also enjoy the third round of the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), the debut of the International Formula Masters and the races of the Copa Seat León.

Both the Pro-Am (32 laps) and the GT Open (26 laps) promise to be action-packed and closely-fought. The International GT Open standings see three different teams in the three top positions. Andrea Montermini and Michele Maceratesi lead the table in their Playteam Ferrari 430 (22 points), followed by the Advanced Engineering Ferrari 430 of Pasini-Livio (18 points) and the Autorlando Porsche 997 RSR of Lietz-Camathias (14 points). No doubt that the battle for the overall victory will be fierce among the Ferraris of the top teams (Playteam SaraFree, Advanced Engineering, RSV Motorsport, GPC, etc), the Porsche of Autorlando, the three Moslers entered (with those of Racing Box and Motor Competición joining the one of GTA Bengala) and the new Sun Red SR21.For this second event of the year, the International GT Open hits the mark of 40 entries (actually 41 at the time of releasing this preview), with the final number and list to be officially issued on Monday 14 May.

Among the additions, we note some regular GT Open and Spanish GT competitors, such as the Motor Competición Mosler MT900R of Villalba-Gutiérrez, the V-Line Ferrari of Carola-Mayol, the ASM Porsche 997 RSR of Del Noce-Bastos and the Del Bello Porsche GT3 of Patrick and Christophe Caternet, all in the GTA class. The Marcos Mantis of Nevoa-Van Putten, a Ferrari 430 Challenge entered by Sun Red for de Castro-Durán, and the second Escudería Roger’s Ferrari 430 Challenge of Valero-River are the latest additions to the GTB category.

But new teams are coming from other countries as well. This is the case of French squad Sovrev-ASP which brings no less than three cars, including a Ferrari 360 Modena GTC driven by GT and Sportscar expert Jérôme Policand alongside Mike Savary. The team also enters two Porsche 997 Cup in the GTB category, for Ricci-Traffort and Balthazard-Béanbelique.

The Aston Martin Dbrs9 is again represented in the GT Open and in the GTS category, thanks to a new Italian team, Villois Racing. The car of the Piedmont-based squad will be driven by two well-known names, the former F3000 driver Gabriele Lancieri and Diego Romanini, who competed most recently in the WTCC. Villois will enter a second Aston from Magny-Cours onwards.

Worth of noting is the fact that Racing Box is entering a Mosler MT900R in GTA for its leading pair formed of Andrea Belicchi and Stefano Zonca, in replacement of the Dodge Viper GT2 which is undergoing further development. The team is also relying in its well-known Vipers GT3, two of which are present in the GTS category.

Finally, the Valencia GT Open will welcome for the first time Peter Terting. The former Seat works driver in the WTCC will race in the spectacular SR21 alongside Juan Ramón Zapata. The 23-year old German will replace his friend and former team-mate Jordi Gené in the races where the Catalan will be taken by his WTCC commitments, and has actually already driven the SR21 in the Spanish GT event in Jerez last week.

Fans at home can follow live the Valencia Pro-Am and GT Open on the Eurosport network.

VALENCIA GT OPEN – TIMINGFriday 18 May 200712:00 – 13:00 Free Practice 116:15 – 17:15 Free Practice 2

Saturday 19 May 200710:05 – 10:20 Qualifying 1 (GTB + GTS)10:20 – 10:25 Qualifying 1 (GTB + GTS + GTA)10:25 – 10:40 Qualifying 1 (GTA)13:15 – 13:30 Qualifying 2 (GTB + GTS)13:30 – 13:35 Qualifying 2 (GTB + GTS + GTA)13:35 – 13:50 Qualifying 2 (GTA)17:05 – 18:10 Valencia Pro-Am Race (32 laps – 65’ max)

Sunday 20 May 200709:00 – 09:15 Warm-up12:45 – 13:30 Valencia GT Open Race (26 laps – 45’ max)