The Austro-Italian pair take second 2009 win and 12-point lead - Other Autorlando 997 3rd with Couceiro-GiãoFässler-Camathias close second on the Trottet FerrariDouble win for Villois’ Astons in GTS after exciting finale: Wiser-Lancieri 1st
In another closely-fought and exciting race in Spa-Francorchamps, Richard Lietz and Gianluca Roda confirmed Porsche’s superiority in the Ardennes, signing a double victory for Stuttgart’s 997 and claiming their second win in the season and reinforcing their leadership in the overall standings. Autorlando Sport also placed its second car, driven by Manuel Gião-Pedro Couceiro, on the podium, in third.
Trottet Ferrari of Marcel Fässler-Joël Camathias came a very close second and was the best of the Prancing Horse machines, keeping open all its options in the fight for the title.
The GTS race was extremely lively, with the Aston Martins of Villois Racing taking a superb double win with Max Wiser-Gabriele Lancieri and Marco Petrini-Paolo Necchi, in a very lively finale, which saw class leaders Peter-Broniszewski (Kessel Ferrari) take a useful third despite the heavy time handicap they had. The International GT Open is heading almost straight away to Donington Park, where the fourth round of the season will take place next week-end.
At the start, Pilet takes the advantage over poleman Lietz, Cioci, Fässler, Gião, Ricci Griffin and Cadei, first in GTS with the Kessel Ferrari. Soon starts a close battle between the two leading Porsches, with Lietz overtaking Pilet at Les Combes in lap 4, while Cioci is an excellent third, managing to keep Fässler behind him, and Piccini passes Cadei for first in GTS and 11th overall.
In lap 7, a small mistake by Cioci at the bus stop opens the door to both Fässler and Griffin, who can start chasing Pilet, who is now six seconds behind leader Lietz. Alexander stops with a broken shaft while Frezza and Balandras collide (the Italian will get a drive-through) and Ricci punctures a tyre.
After the driver change, Roda has an advantage of 17 seconds on Bamford, Perazzini, Narac, Couceiro, Kralev, Bonetti and Geri, who leads in GTS. Camathias and Couceiro will soon be in second and third position, with the Swiss getting closer and closer to the leader. Nevertheless, Roda keeps everything under control and takes the flag as the winner. The last laps are dominated by the beautiful battle in GTS with the Astons of Lancieri and Petrini catching and passing the Corvette of Geri and starting to fight between them. But it’s Lancieri taking the win while Geri has to leave also third place to the Kessel Ferrari of class leader Peter.
SPA RACE 2 RESULTS
SUPER GT:1. Roda-Lietz (Autorlando Porsche 997), 20 laps in 50m00s543 (av: 168.000 kmh)2. Couceiro-Gião (Autorlando Porsche 997) +1s3. Fässler-Camathias (Trottet Ferrari F430) +16s4. Cioci-Perazzini (Megadrive Ferrari F430) +17s5. Narac-Pilet (IMSA Porsche 997) +20s
GTS:1. Wiser-Lancieri (Villois Aston Martin DBRS9)2. Petrini-Necchi (Villois Aston Martin DBRS 9)3. Peter-Broniszewski (Kessel Ferrari F430 GT3)4. Piccini-Geri (Sc.22 Corvette)5. De Lorenzi-Borghi (GDL Porsche 997 GT3)
OVERALL STANDINGS SUPER GT1. Lietz-Roda (Autorlando Porsche 997 RSR), 100 p.2. Fässler-Camathias (Trottet Ferrari F430), 883. Rugolo-Ricci (Advanced Ferrari F430), 684. Couceiro-Gião (Autorlando Porsche), 605. Narac-Pilet (IMSA Porsche), 52
OVERALL STANDINGS GTS1. Peter-Broniszewski (Kessel Ferrari F430 GT3), 46 p.2. Wiser (Villois Aston Martin DBRS9), 423. Lancieri (Villois Aston Martin DBRS9), 34
TEAM SUPER GT :1. Autorlando Sport, 70 p.2. Trottet Racing, 373. Advanced Engineering, 284. IMSA Performance, 215. Megadrive, 18
TEAM GTS :1. Villois Racing, 66 p.2. Kessel Racing, 563. Vittoria Competizioni, 32
