The ‘British’ Ferrari resisted the IMSA and Autorlando PorschesSpectacular accident between Aguas and BarbaPorsche’s one-two in GTS, as De Lorenzi-Borghi take first winGaps reduced at the top of both championships
The CRS Racing took its second win in the International GT Open, this time withChris Niarchos and Tim Mullen, in another dramatic finale, ahead of thePorsches of Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet (IMSA) and Richard Lietz-GianlucaRoda (Autorlando).
The race was marked by a spectacular accident in lap 5 involving the two AFCorse Ferraris of Rui Aguas and Alvaro Barba. The Portuguese and the Spaniard,whose cars were destroyed, where brought to the Verviers hospital for checksbut both are OK, although a little bit shaken by the shunt.
Porsche made a one-two in GTS with De Lorenzi Racing taking its maidenvictory with Gianluca De Lorenzi and Stefano Borghi, ahead of the Autorlandocar of Gruber-Deverikos and the Villois Aston of Lancieri-Lancelotti.The bad day had by the championship leaders has partly re-open the situationin the standings of both the overall and GTS championships: Barba-Kaffer nowhave a 12-points over Roda-Lietz, while in GTS, Dayraut is only 2 points aheadof Frezza-Couceiro.
It was interesting grid, with Lietz and Lieb (usually team-mates in the LMS) infirst row, but both were beaten at the start by Toccacelo and Kirkaldy. At theend of the first lap, the two Ferraris lead ahead of Lietz, Aguas, Barba, Lieb,Narac, Broniszewski, Deverikos and Mortimer, while Livio has remained trappedin the gravel.
The fight is fierce at the top and in lap 4 Lietz passes Kirkaldy for second andBarba passes Aguas. In lap 5, the incident that marks the race: at the exit ofBlanchimont, Kirkaldy loses his car, spins and hits the armco; Barba whofollowed the Scot very closely, lifts up for a second, and Aguas attempts topass his team-mate from off the track. The two collide at the entrance of thebus-stop, hitting hardly the wall.
After the inevitable period of safety-car and the driver changes (the windowhas been extended 10 minutes), it is Roda leading, ahead of Mullen, Pilet,Peter, Giammaria and Borghi, who leads in GTS ahead of Bullitt and Gruber.With very short gaps, the battle is intense. Mullen passes Roda and so doesPilet and the French attacks the Scot, but the CRS Ferrari keeps the advantageand wins, while Peter takes fourth having resisted the attacks of Giammaria.The De Lorenzi Porsche wins in GTS, ahead of the sister car of Gruber-Deverikos and the Aston of Lancelotti.
Overall: 1. Kaffer-Barba, 116 p.; 2. Roda-Lietz, 104; 3. Niarchos-Mullen, 84; 4. Narac-Pilet, 82; 5. Giammaria-Toccacelo, 81
GTS Overall: 1. Dayraut, 44; 2. Couceiro-Frezza, 38 p.; 3. Livio-Bontempelli, 32; 4.Gruber-Deverikos, 29; 5. Ortelli, 26
Teams Gt Open: 1. AF Corse, 57; 2. Autorlando Sport, 44; 3. IMSA Performance, 36Teams GTS: 1. Kessel Racing, 87; 2. Luxury Racing, 44; 3. Autorlando Sport, 37
