GT Open Thrilled About First Appearance in Britain
• Brands Hatch rounds mark a key moment for the series• Lietz-Camathias (Autorlando Porsche) lead the standings• A 30-car entry and action-packed races expected
The International GT Open prepares itself to live another special moment: its first visit to the United Kingdom and to the legendary track of Brands Hatch.
The English circuit will host the fifth event of the season and the International GT Open will be part of an exciting week-end of racing, which also features the World Touring Car Championship among other formulas.
“Racing in front of British fans, probably the most discerning ones in the world, is always like an exam!” says former sportscar driver Jesús Pareja, founder and organizer of the International GT Open. “For us it is a great honour to be in Brands Hatch and we are really looking forward to this event. In less than two years, the level of the series has grown steadily and we are happy to have so many good teams and drivers in the GT Open. Racing for the first time in Britain, and also in Germany a few weeks ago, represents a an important step in the expansion of a series, which aims at reviving the true spirit of GT racing and a becoming the preferred platform for GT2 and GT3 pro-am racing”.
Entries for the two-race Brands Hatch event, which will include the Pro-Am race on Saturday (35 laps) and the GT Open race on Sunday (26 laps) will be officially closed on Monday 17 September.
Around 30 cars are expected and the entry list includes all the regular participants. British fans will have the possibility of enjoying cars of the most prestigious GT makes (Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin, Mosler, Marcos, Viper, Maserati, Lamborghini, Sun Red) in the capable hands of drivers of the like of Montermini, Peter, Bobbi, Euser, Sundberg, Camathias, Lietz, Viso, etc.
Among them, Johnny Mowlem, one of the most reputed drivers in the GT scene, is probably the most eager to be in Brands; not only he is the top British competitor in the series, he is also one of the contenders to the title, currently in fourth position in the overall standings, in the GPC Ferrari 430 he shares with Gianluca Roda. Among newcomers to this race, the GTS Ferrari 430 of French team Sport Garage.
The championship is still completely open, with five different race winners in eight rounds, and sees the Autorlando Porsche 997 Rsr of Austrian Richard Lietz and Swiss Joël Camathias in the lead, with 101 point, ahead of the GPC Ferrari 430 of Philipp Peter- Alessandro Bonetti (80 points) and the Playteam Ferrari 430 of Andrea Montermini-Michele Maceratesi. Arlotti-Gini (Ferrari 360 Challenge) lead in the GTB class and Ferdinando Geri (who has driven so far a Viper Coupé and a Lamborghini Gallardo) has a one-point lead among GTS cars.
As usual, racing fans at home can follow the Brands Hatch GT Open throughout the continent on the Eurosport network.
Brands Hatch Timetable
Friday 21 September10:00-10:45 Free Practice 113:45-14:30 Free Practice 217:45-18:00 Qualifying 1 (GTB+GTS)18:00-18:05 Qualifying 1 (GTB+GTS+GTA)18:05-18:20 Qualifying 1 (GTA)
Saturday 22 September09:40-09:55 Qualifying 2(GTB+GTS)09:55-10:00 Qualifying 2 (GTA+GTB+GTS)10:00-10:15 Qualifying 2 (GTA)1600-17:00 Pro-Am Race (35 laps, max. 60 min. – Rolling start)
Sunday 23 September10:45-10:55 Warm-up13:05–13:40 GT Open Race (26 laps, max. 45 min. – Rolling start)
