The Matech GT Racing team with an extraordinary performance has reached an emotional win in the FIA GT3 European Championship on Sunday at the Paul Ricard circuit.The German-Brazilian duo of Thomas Mutsch and Walter Salles started from 17th place and successively pushed forward through the field to the front. After 27 laps the #1 Ford GT3 was the first vehicle to cross the finish line. To top off this feat, the victorious pairing also managed posting the fastest race lap."The team did a fantastic job during the weekend,” said Thomas Mutsch. "When we arrived at Paul Ricard with the setup for Portimao we found out that this set-up did not match here. We made some major changes during the free practice sessions and looked forward to qualifying. Due to some brake problems we were not able to show our real performance. We had to start from the 17th position with the absolutely fantastic set-up and great car. Therefore I was able to overtake more and more cars and set the quickest lap time. Finally, I was very pleased to hand over the car to Walter in third position after an exceptional stint. Walter did the same great job as the team and I think after all the bad luck during the season we deserved a good result here at Paul Ricard.”Walter Salles added: "I just can’t find the words to describe the extraordinary job Thomas has done. My only task was to bring the car home, and after all those things that happened before, for example in Portimao, this win gives me a wonderful feeling.”In a curious first round the Matech team had still been struck by misfortune. From the beginning rain started to fall and by the third lap some sections of the track became very slippery. Some of the drivers of the cars fitted with tread-less slicks tires lost control, spun and crashed into the barriers or rivals. The second Matech Ford GT driven by Jonathan Hirschi (Switzerland) and Eric de Doncker (Belgium) was involved in an accident as well. The #2 Ford GT3 was damaged, had to retire and was not able to start the second race. The result of the first race was classified based on the positions after the second lap. The drivers received only half points. The Mutsch/Salles pair could not finished in the points. Important Point for Matech in the FIA GT ChampionshipThomas Mutsch and Henri Moser finished eighth at the seventh round of the FIA GT Championship and thus scored a championship point for the Matech GT Racing team.Matech had signed the young Swiss talent Henri Moser specifically for this round at the tradition-steeped Paul Ricard circuit. At the wheel of the #44 Ford GT1 car the 21-year-old former European FIA GT3 Champion was to gather initial experience in a car that has already been prepared according to the regulations for the new 2010 FIA GT1 World Championship.In free practice the German "factory” driver, Thomas Mutsch and Henri Moser claimed ninth place, in pre-qualifying they took tenth. Thomas Mutsch, who already scored points at Silverstone and Oschersleben, then clinched tenth place in qualifying as well. In the race Mutsch and Moser improved to eighth place and were rewarded with a point for the championship."I’m very pleased with the result,” said Moser. The team did a perfect job. For me the whole weekend brought a lot of pleasure. I would like to say a big thank you to Martin for giving me the chance to drive this 2010 specification Ford GT1 and I do hope I can drive it again in the near future. 2010 will be very difficult for me in terms of how to coordinate my racing schedule and my studies with all the exams but I hope I can drive this car next year, too.”"Relief…is certainly the most appropriate word to describe my feelings after this weekend,” said Martin Bartek, Team Owner and Principal. "Despite a tough start and the loss of car #2 in the first race, the team and the drivers did a fantastic job. I was pleased to welcome Henri Moser to share the Ford GT1 experience. He was immediately at pace and I hope to have him on board very soon again. Thomas Mutsch showed an outstanding performance at the wheel of the wining Ford GT3 and only proved again what a great driver he is. I share my feeling of satisfaction with Walter Salles who was chasing the top of the podium since Adria. I’m proud of every single team member’s performance and I’m looking more and more confident at what we will be able to achieve as a real professional team next year when the FIA GT1 World Championship will kick off. The development of the Ford GT1 has been completed and the first 2010 vintage is being assembled as we speak.”