Spectacular GT Open podium for Villorba Corse with Balzan and

Motorsport News

We offer creative digital solutions for website, software, video, app and brand development.

Specialists in delivering digital projects for clients all around the world for over 25 years. We love car stuff but do non-automotive too...so get in touch if you think we can help +44 (0)1483 203781

See Our Work

Tim Samways Sporting & Historic Car Engineers

International Collectables by Edward Lovett

July 5, 2015 in Motorsport

Spectacular GT Open podium for Villorba Corse with Balzan and Benucci

The Italian crew clinched third place at the Red Bull Ring where their Ferrari 458 made a stunning comeback in the first race of the fourth 2015 GT Open round.

Scuderia Villorba Corse pick up precious points in the International GT Open with Alessandro Balzan and Nicola Benucci. Italian crew played a starring role at the wheel of their Ferrari 458 GT3 in race-1 of the fourth round of the championship at the Red Bull Ring. Villorba pair came in third position celebrating their third podium in a row after the ones caught in Silverstone two weeks ago. Started from the third row on the Austrian grid, Benucci kept a good and steady pace throughout the first part of the race which allowed the driver from Modena to enter the pits in 6th position. Because of their mandatory 15-second handicap time to be paid during the driver change, at lap 20 Balzan got back on track in 9th place.

Thanks to a stunning series of overtaking Venetian driver from Rovigo is the star of a spectacular progression that brought him in 6th position during lap 22, in 5th at the following one and in 4th at lap 28. After setting the fastest lap at lap 33 (then beaten by a rival in the very last lap), almost at the end of the 70-minute race, during lap 37, Balzan took that 3rd place which allows him, his teammate and the team led by Raimondo Amadio to come closer to the top of the championship standings.

Amadio, Team Principal, said: “It was a very positive race. We have to grab as many points as possible, even if the handicap time increases, and, once again, in race-1 we confirmed our consistency thanks to a perfect Ferrari and a thrilling comeback from Balzan, while Benucci was very good at the beginning. We enjoy another podium in the knowledge that, changing places and/or championships, we always stay on top. And I believe this is really important for a team”.

International GT Open calendar: 26 apr. Le Castellet (FRA); 10 may Estoril (POR); 7 june Silverstone (GBR); 5 july Zeltweg (AUT); 6 sept. Spa (BEL); 4 oct. Monza (ITA); 1 nov. Barcelona (SPA).

Back to News Index