Portuguese pair secure 2015 GT Open title after coming 3rd in a triumphant day for McLaren and Teo Martín, with Watson-Monje taking maiden win
Lathouras-Rugolo (AF Corse Ferrari) 2nd after defending fiercely their chances
Sdanewitsch (AF Corse) confirms GT-Am title with a win with Melnikov
AF Corse mathematically crowned among Teams
Miguel Ramos and Álvaro Parente are the 2015 Champions of the International Open. The Lusitanian pair has secured the title one race before the end of the season on a glorious day for McLaren and Teo Martín Motorsport, who saw Andrew Watson and Fernando Monje winning Race 1 and signing their respective maiden wins in the series. Michele Rugolo and Pasin Lathouras (AF Corse) fought fiercely to defend their chances in the title bid but a small off-track in the closing laps put them second.
Claudio Sdanewitsch (AF Corse) confirmed his success in the GT-Am category after taking another win with team mate Ilya Melnikov, ahead of Sardinha-Da Costa (Sport&You Mercedes), while James Abbott, associated this time to Roelant De Waard, collected more GT Open Cup honors for Radical.
Games are over also in the Teams’ trophy as AF Corse mathematically secured victory, clinching its third title after those in 2012 and 2010.
It was logically party time at Teo Martín after the race. “It’s great to win the title, it’s a perfect reward to the excellent work put by everybody in the team throughout the season”, commented Álvaro Parente, while an emotional Miguel Ramos admitted: “I am very happy, after having sought for the GT Open title for a number of years. After finishing second the last two years, the third time was the good one.”
THE RACE - With Parente taking a stunning pole by 0.493 seconds (having done only 2 flying laps) ahead of Rugolo and Companc, with the second Teo Martín in fourth, the grid couldn’t reflect better the situation on top of the standings.
Rugolo takes best start but at second corner Parente retakes leadership, with Monje third preceding Hassid, Pezzucchi, Campaniço and Proczyk. There is drama in corner 2 as Balfe and Companc get in contact, obliging Benucci to go wide. The Argentine spins and remains stuck in the gravel (he’ll rejoin after a long moment) while the Ferrari is forced to pit. Yoluc spins in lap 2 after contact with Da Costa (who’ll get a drive-through) and Balfe returns to the pits to retire.
On top, Parente builds a 2.2 second in eight laps, with Rugolo second 13 second cklear from Monje and Hassid a solid fourth. In lap 13, Campaniço takes fifth from Pezzucchi. Abbott is 8th with the Radical and Sdanewitsch leads among GT-Am.
Cameron, Benucci and Sdanewitdsch open the pit stop ballet. In lap 19, Parente hands out the wheel to Ramos, while Rugolo stays on track for 3 more laps and Kox puts on fastest lap (1.47.585) in lap 18, who three laps later unlaps himself.
When all pit stops are done, Lathouras leads with 18 seconds over Ramos and 19 on Watson, with Perera, Balzan and Griffin fighting for fourth much further aback. Soon after, Watson passes Ramos for second. There is a drive-through penalty for Biagi, for not serving the entire handicap, while Mallégol goes in the pits in lap 30 with a broken engine.
Fifteen minutes from the end, Lathouras’ advantage on Watson is down to 11 seconds, with Ramos 23 seconds behind. Shortly after (lap 32), Lathouras, who was then 8 seconds clear, goes slightly off in the gravel, losing time and leaving the door open to Watson, who flies to the chequered flag, while Ramos takes third and the title.
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER RACE 13 OF 14
Overall: 1. Parente-Ramos, 206 points; 2. Rugolo-Lathouras, 175; 3. Giammaria-Companc,150;
4. Balzan-Benucci, 122; 5. Keen-Balfe, 69; 6. Sdanewitsch, 68; etc
Pro-Am: 1. Ramos-Parente, 91; 2. Rugolo-Lathouras, 74; 3. Giammaria-Companc, 62; 4. Benucci-Balzan, 49; 5.Keen-Balfe, 29; 6.Griffin-Cameron, 27; etc
GT-Am: 1.Sdanewitsch, 51; 2. Melnikov, 44; 3. Barreiros, 37; 4. Hankey-Yoluc, Silva-Coimbra,
19; 6. Rasmussen, 18; etc
Teams: 1. AF Corse, 155; 2. Teo Martín Motorsport, 104; 3. Villorba Corse, 49; 4. Balfe
Motorsport, 29; 5. Baporo Motorsport, 22; 6. Brussels Racing Aston Martin, 14; etc
Cup Am: 1. Abbott, 25; 2. Unzurrunzaga, 14; 3. Hoy, 5
