Italian duo dominates Race 1Malucelli-Barba, 2nd on the Villois Aston, become new points leadersThe aabar Villorba Ferrari again on the podiumAF Corse wins also in GTS, with Bizzarri-RizzoliFirst podium for a McLaren, with Hummel-Christodoulou (Lapidus), 2ndRACE 1
Spa-FrancorchampsGimmi Bruni and Federico Leo took their second seasonal win in Spa- Francorchamps after dominating Race 1 from flag to flag. They beat the Villois Racing Aston Martin Vantage of Alvaro Barba and Matteo Malucelli, again on the podium and now the new championship leaders following the retirement of Tandy-Holzer on the Manthay Porsche, and the Aabar Villorba Ferrari of Andrea Montermini-Cochito Lopez.
AF Corse also won in the GTS class, following a perfect race of Stefano Bizzarri- Andrea Rizzoli; the former, also at his second success of the season, comforts his points lead. Lapidus Racing gave McLaren its first podium in the GT Open, with Klaas Hummel-Adam Christodoulou finishing 2nd ahead of the Kessel Racing Ferrari of Daniel Zampieri-Michael Dalle Stelle.
At the start, Tandy keeps the advantage of the pole but only up to the Kemmel straight, having to concede the lead to Bruni, but re-catching second after a furious battle with Peter, Barba and Ramos, with Montermini coming strong from behind. In GTS, Bizzarri leads Dalle Stelle, Ladygin, Alexander and Ardagna. Hamilton spins at the Source in lap 2, and in lap 5, there is a contact between Piccini and Sijthof, with both suffering some tire damage. While Bruni builds quickly a 7-second advantage, the battle is fierce for second between Peter and Barba, soon joined by Montermini. This trio will catch Tandy, whose tires seem to be performing less, and start a big battle. After the pit stop, Leo comforts his lead, with 21” over Broniszewski and Malucelli (who passes the Pole soon after). Lopez is fourth, followed by Holzer, Giammaria (who does a slight off-track after a contact with a lapped car) and Pilet in close fight. The French will pass the Italian and gain two more positions when Holzer stops in the pits with ‘dead’ tires and Giammaria spins at the Source.
Rizzoli is 8th and first GTS ahead of Zampieri and Christodoulou, and in the final laps the trio will give life to a beautiful battle, with Christodoulou eventually securing second. Before the end of the race there is a 20” penalty inflicted to the Kessel Ferrari of Broniszewski, as Peter passed the track limits during his stint.
Championship Standings after Race 5 of 16 (unofficial)Scratch: 1.Malucelli-Barba, 64 p.; 2. Pilet-Narac, 62; 3. Holzer-Tandy, 52; 4. Bizzarri,52; 5. Leo-Bruni, 44; 6. Broniszewski-Peter, 40
GTS: 1. Bizzarri,, 34 p.; 2. Hamilton-Mapelli, Dalle Stelle-Zampieri, 24; 4. Seyffarth-Heyer, 20; 5. Gruber-Seefried, Christodoulou-Hummel, 16Teams SGT: 1. Villois Racing, 29 p.; 2. IMSA Performance, 27; 3. Manthay Racing,24; 4. AF Corse, aabar Villorba Corse, 20
Team GTS: 1. AF Corse, 38 p.; 2. Kessel Racing; 3. Autorlando Sport, 24; 4.Seyffarth Motorsport, 20; Deboeuf Raceteam, Lapidus Racing, 16
