French duo takes first 2010 in NürburgringFirst podium for CRS Racing (with Niarchos-Mullen 2nd)Toccacelo-Giammaria (EdilCris Ferrari), 3rd after lively battleMaiden win for Luxury in GTS with Dayraut-Ortelli
Porsche took its revenge in the first race of the Nürburgring GT Open, as IMSAPerformance, Raymond Narac and Patrick Pilet imposed their 911 RSR for the firsttime this year. The French outfit after a lively fight with the Ferrari F430 EdilCris ofEnrico Toccacelo-Raffaele Giammaria, which came third, and a strong final charge onthe F430 of Tim Mullen-Chris Niarchos, who gave CRS Racing its first GT Open podiumever. Kaffer-Barba (AF Ferrari) retain the leadership in the championship but had adifficult day given the high handicap and a slow puncture.
In GTS, French team Luxury Racing took its maiden victory in the series after afaultless race from flag-to-flag by Jean-Philippe Dayraut and Stéphane Ortelli. Secondwas the Kessel Ferrari of Couceiro-Frezza (now co-leading the GTS standings withtoday’s winners) and third the Villois Aston of Lancieri-Lancelotti.
It is sunny and dry at the start of race 1, which sees pleman Kaffer take control aheadof Mullen, Peter, Narac, Toccacelo, Dayraut (who goes off-track in lap 2), Bontempelliand Couceiro, while there is a contact between Dutchmen Versluis and Dijkstrafollowing an overtaking attempt of the forme
The leading Ferraris pull off and start a lively and beautiful fight, with Mulleneventually passing Kaffer(who is suffering a slow puncture) in lap 12, while 11 secondsbehind Peter and Narac have an equally heated duel. In GTS, Dayraut is firmly incommand, but with a very short margin on Bontempelli, Couceiro, Lancieri andGruber.
On lap 21, after the driver change (where Kaffer and Narac had to serve the longesthandicaps, respectively 30 and 20 seconds), it’s Niarchos leading on the CRS Ferrariwith 21 seconds over Giammaria and Pilet in full fight, Lietz, Ortelli, Broniszewski,Livio, Frezza, Lancelotti and Scheier.
In lap 24, Giammaria and Pilet exchange positions twice, with the French eventuallygoing through after cutting a little bit a chicane, which infuriates the Italian and opensan investigation by the marshals on the incident. Pilet will pre-empt a sanction bygiving back the position gained and retaking second in lap 29. The incident allowsNiarchos to keep the lead but Pilet would charge furiously in the closing laps, takingthe lead in lap 28 and winning ahead of Niarchos, Giammaria and Lietz. In GTS, Ortellicompletes the good work of Dayraut and takes first ahead of Frezza and Lancieri.
Overall Standings
GT Open: 1. Barba-Kaffer, 48 p.; 2. Pilet-Narac, 40; 3. Roda-Lietz,34; 4. Toccacelo-Giammaria, 32; 5. Niarchos-Mullen, 26
Overall Standings
GTS: 1.Ortelli-Dayraut, 16 p.; 2. Couceiro-Frezza, 16; 3. Ceccato-Salucci, Deverikos-Gruber, 13; 5. Lancieri-Lancelotti, Tiemann-Matthews, 10
Teams Super GT: 1. AF Corse, 23 p.; 2. IMSA Performance, 18; 3. Autorlando Sport,Edil Cris, 14; 5. CRS Racing, 11
Teams GTS: 1. Kessel Racing, 37; 2. Luxury, 16; 3. Autorlando Sport, 13; 4. PhoenixRacing, Villois Racing, 10
