in Paul Ricard Winter Series
Venturi (Black Bull) wins Race 1, First GTS win also for SMP Russian BearsThe Talkanitsa family has lived a glorious day at the Paul Ricard, as the two Aleksanders, father and soon, took third in Race 1 and won Race 2 of the first 2013 Winter Series event in their AT Racing-entered (and AF Corse-prepared) Ferrari 458 GT2. A popular duo in the GT Open paddock for the last three seasons, their success (the first at international level for Belarus drivers) pleased everybody.
Mirko Venturi, with the Black Bull Ferrari 458 GT3, took the win in Race 1, while it was also a wonderful weekend for SMP Russian Bears squad, who won in the GTS class in Race 2, meaning that the Russian anthem played for the first time in the GT Open history. PRO GT by Almras put the new Porsche 911 R GT3 on the class podium twice, pleasing local fans.
Race 1: Venturi and Black Bull take first Winter Series win
Mirko Venturi has won the first race of the Paul Ricard Winter Series, after a perfectly mastered race at the wheel of the Black Bull Ferrari 458 GT3. The Italian, who was racing alone, had signed the pole in the morning and led the initial laps ahead of Ladygin, who passed Talkanitsa jr at the start. Fourth in the opening laps was Mavlanov, followed by Maino, Giauque and Amos.
Turn one saw a contact in the mid of the field, which involved Toril, Laursen, Palmer and Montermini, with only the Italian able to rejoin the race.While Venturi increased his lead steadily up to 8 seconds, Talkanitsa regained second from Ladyigin. After the pit stop, things did not change much, with Venturi fully in control while the Almras Porsche took second from Talkanitsa in the closing laps, and Rosell secured fourth ahead of Amos.Race 2: Perfect afternoon for the Talkanitsas and Russian BearsPeter Kox made good use of the pole position at the start of Race 2, taking the lead ahead of Venturi, Perera, Guibbert, Bobbi, Peter, Schir, Gattuso, Rosell, Rugolo and Castellacci. The Lambo of Kox and the Ferrari of Venturi quickly got a nice gap over competitors, and stayedtogether until the pit stop, with the Dutchman always in the lead.
After the pit stop, Venturi came out first but it got immediately clear that the Italian had not served the entire handicap. He received a 140 penalty but decided not to rejoin the race. Ladygin was then first but got passed in lap 18 by Talkanitsa jr, who then cruised to the chequered flag, while the SMP Russian Bears car took the win in GTS, with Guibbert (Almras Porsche) and Palmer (Vita4One Italy Ferrari) taking the rest of the honours.
