911 RSR can still cut it in GT Open against well developed 430's and the new 458 in the GT Open series
Bontempelli-Gattuso (Kessel Ferrari) win in GTS, López-Frezza (Vittoria Competizioni) first overall leaders
Imola, 1st May 2011.
Porsche took its revenge today in the second race of the International GT Open in Imola, as Álvaro Barba and Andrea Ceccato, at the wheel of the Autorlando Sport Porsche 911 RSR, took a superb win ahead of the Ferraris. The Spaniard (and current reigning champion) and the young Italian, who one week ago were not even sure to race in the series, made a perfect race, with Barba building a substantial advantage in stint one and Ceccato ensuring a faultless second part.The pair beat Raffaele Giammaria-Miguel Ramos (EdilCris Ferrari F430) and Andrea Montermini-Emanuele Moncini (Villorba Ferrari F430), while yesterday’s winners, Marco Frezza-Cochito López (Vittoria Ferrari F430) were fourth and are the first championship leaders.
In GTS, it was a clear success for the Ferrari F430 of Lorenzo Bontempelli and Stefano Gattuso, which brought some comfort to Kessel Racing after the débâcle in qualifying, were the team’s three other cars were lost in accidents. Second, as yesterday, young Italians Stefano Bizzarri and Andrea Rizzoli (AF Corse Ferrari F458), ahead of yesterday’s winners, Gianluca Roda-Fabio Babini (Autorlando Porsche 911 R), who are now tied in points at the top of the class standings.
It is sunny and warm on Sunday mid-day, when poleman Cochito López leads the pack into the first corner, before having to capitulate in front of Barba’s attacks, who flies away at strong pace. They are followed by Garofano, Bontempelli, Ramos, Lancieri, Montermini and Rosell. After 10 laps, Barba has an advantage of 8” over Bontempelii (who leads GTS), Lopez, Garofano, Montermini and Ramos while Rizzoli and Babini are second and third in GTS.
After driver changes, Ceccato has a 16” lead over Moncini and Gattuso, but the second part of the race will be animated by the charges of Giammaria and Frezza. The first one will take second finishing very close to Ceccato, who never lost control of things, while Frezza will end fourth behind the Villorba car of Moncini. Gattuso, despite some engine misfiring, keeps the advantage in GTS ahead of Bizzari, Roda, Wiser (on the Villois Aston) and Rees.
Standings/General
Overall/Scratch: 1. Frezza-Lopez, 32 p.; 2. Ramos-Giammaria, 27; 3. Barba-Ceccato, 26; 4. Roda-Babini, 24; 5. Ayari-Misslin, Rizzoli-Bizzarri, 21; etc
SuperGT: 1. Frezza-Lopez, 14 p.; 2. Ramos-Giammaria, 12; 3. Ceccato-Barba, 10; 4. Ayari-Misslin, 9; 5. Rangoni-Garofano, 8; etc
GTS: 1. Roda-Babini, Bizzarri-Rizzoli, 16; 3. Bontempelli-Gattuso, 10; 4. Lancieri-Wiser, Rees-Pirri, 7; etc
Teams SGT:
1. Vittoria competizioni, 14 p; 2. Edil Cris, 12; 3. Autorlando Sport, 10; 4. AF Corse, 8; 5. JMB Racing, Luxury Racing, Villorba Corse, 6.
Teams GTS: Autorlando Sport, AF Corse, 16 p.; 3. Kessel Racing, 10; 4. Mtech Ltd, Villois Racing, 7; 6. Teamrace Deboeuf, 6.
