New Porsche 997 RSR of champion Autorlando Sport fastest in pre-season test in Valencia
The two-day pre-season testing session for the 2008 International GT Open, that took place in the Circuito Ricardo Tormo near Valencia, achieved its main objective: to give an opportunity to teams and drivers to perform development work in racing conditions, ahead of the start of the season. Twenty-five cars showed up in Eastern Spain and could use to the fullest the eight hours of track activity, with perfect weather conditions, despite the strong wind.
The collective test was also an interesting opportunity to weight forces in presence among the top contenders. Porsche teams such as Autorlando and Drivex sported for the first time the new 2008 Porsche 997 RSR (one unit each) and spent much of the session doing set-up work. With excellent results, as the Autorlando car (which carried the nr. 1 for the first time) obtained the fastest time (1.35.870) at noon on day 2. For the occasion, the Italian squad received the support of Porsche works driver Richard Westbrook.
Playteam SaraFree was the fastest among the numerous Ferrari F430, which a time obtained in day 1 by Max Busnelli, in a car which remained in the box for most of day 2 because of an electronic problem. The Italian squad brought a number of drivers (Montermini, Maceratesi, Frassinetti, Maceratesi, Tedoldi, Kamenther, Gião, Couceiro) which it intends to use in the different championships it will participate. This was the case also of Advanced Engineering, with Tavano, Gattuso, Livio, Bamford, Griffin and Maletic alternating at the wheel of two of its 2008 engine-spec 430s. Stefano Livio sat the 4th fastest time ahead of another F430, driven by Spaniard Marc Carola and the second Playteam of Gião-Couceiro, while the Motor Competición Mosler MT900R of Villalba-Gutiérrez was sixth.
The two Sun Red SR 21 (one of which is now in a full blue livery), the Ferraris of EdilCris, ASM Portugal, AC Andorra and Gianni Giudici (with his own-elaborated 430s) were also present, in their driver line-up for the forthcoming season.The GTS class saw the debut of the much-awaited Corvette Z06 GT3 by Twenty-Two Motorsport, a new Italian team, with Marco Cioci and Andrea Pellizzato at the wheel. The car was the fastest in its class thanks to a time (1.38.145) in day 1, beating the two Lamborghinis Gallardo of Racing Box and Roger Racing’s Ferrari F430 with young Spaniard José Luis Pampló at the wheel.
The first round of the 8-event 2008 International GT Open is scheduled in Vallelunga (Italy) an 19-20 April.
