FFSA GTs – Ledenon, Race 2 – April 29
More Saleen Success

Qualifying
GT1
The second qualifying session was for the top-seeded drivers. At first, Policand (#8 Luc Alphand Corvette C5-R), Beltoise (#10 Mirabeau Chrysler Viper) and Zangarelli (#16 PSI C5-R) were quickest, but soon Laurent Groppi (#1 Oreca Saleen S7R) set the provisional pole. Soheil Ayari's time was rejected because he had been beyond the white line, but he improved soon after – to fastest, with a 1'17''877. He was ahead of Groppi, Bouchut (#17 PSI C6.R - below), Zangarelli, Cayrolle (#5 SRT C5-R), Makowiecki (#3 ANAVEO Larbre Aston Martin DBR9) and Beltoise.

Makowiecki and Bouchut were pushing hard and improved on Ayari's laptime. Soheil reacted, setting the only time in the 1'16''bracket. However, in the very last moments, Groppi, even though he had 80 kgs of ballast due to his Saturday win - against 40 kgs for Ayari - succeeded in claiming the pole position, ahead of Ayari, Bouchut, Makowiecki, Policand, Thévenin (#4 Tarrès Team Saleen S7R) and Zacchia (#2 Larbre Ferrari 550 Maranello).

GT2 and GT3
While Richard Balandras (#36 IMSA MATMUT Porsche 997 RSR) was quickest in the GT2 category, the fight was a tough one in the GT3 class. The Sport Garage Ferrari 430s were out front, Campbell (#75), being ahead of Merafina (#78) and Vannelet (#74). Then the First Racing Lamborghinis set the first significant time, with Amado (#70 Lamborghini Gallardo) fastest and Giroix (#71) second. The Ferraris reacted and Campbell set the provisional pole, ahead of Vannelet, Leclerc (#72 First Racing Gallardo) and Rodrigues (#77 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9). Campbell and Vannelet pitted but Amado then set a lap time of 1'21''919, quickest in the session. In the late stages, positions were changing for second place and eventually Leclerc was second quickest, ahead of Romain Yvon (#76 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9), Campbell and Vannelet.

Race 2
AT the start, Ayari jumped ahead of the poleman Laurent Groppi. The Oreca Saleens were ahead of Bouchut (#17 PSI C6.R). Makowiecki (#3 LARBRE Aston Martin) was passed by Policand (#8 Luc Alphand C5-R), Thévenin (#4 Tarrès Saleen) and Zacchia (#2 Larbre Ferrari 550). However he returned the favour very soon. Thévenin and Zacchia were on the tail of Policand’s Corvette, now in fourth place. Thévenin and Cayrolle (#16 PSI C5-R) were fighting for sixth place and Zacchia and Cayrolle (#16 Psi C5-R) for eighth place.

Soon afterwards, Thévenin had an off and Groppi was penalised with a drive through (for overtaking under yellow). He stopped on lap 16 and came back on the track just behind Policand and Makowiecki: he passed them both, moving up to third place.

Makowiecki pitted first while Ayari in #9, Bouchut and Groppi stayed out a bit longer. After the driver changes, Narac (#9 Saleen) was in the lead ahead of Lebon (#17 C5-R), Hernandez (#1 Saleen ), Balthazard (#8 C5-R), Bornhauser (#3 Aston Martin), Cazenave (#4 Saleen), Adam (#2 Ferrari), Fiat (#7 Saleen), Police (#16 C5-R) and Lesoudier (#10 Viper).

Positions weren't to change much after the pitstops. Narac had a twenty second lead on Yvon Lebon and could cruise towards the chequered flag. For the third place, the fight was a good one between Hernandez and Bornhauser. Hernandez's tyres were quite worn and he had to deal with traffic, which allowed Bornauser to close. They were side by side on the finish straight but Hernandez saved his position, .019 seconds only ahead of the Aston Martin.

The Oreca Saleens will henceforth have smaller restrictors, after this double success at Ledenon.

The big man with the beard, applauding Hugue de Chaunac, above, is Daniel Havis, the MATMUT Chairman.

Soheil Ayari: "I tried my best at the start to set a strong pace, while Laurent Groppi contained Christophe Bouchut. I took advantage and I pushed very hard during my whole stint, trying to be careful in the traffic. It is always more difficult when you come up first on the backmarkers. I tried to have the largest gap as possible, so Raymond could start serenely."

Raymond Narac: "I am happy with this win. I had a quiet run, setting the same pace throughout the race. I wanted us to win to score some big points, to get closer to our aim which is the championship."

FFSA GT Championship standings
1 Narac / Ayari 98
2Hernandez / Groppi 81
3 Police / Zangarelli 60
4 Balthazard / Policand 59
5Cazenave / Cayrolle 48
6 Lecourt / Balandras 46 (1st GT2)

GT2 Trophy
It was a fourth win in a row for Lecourt / Balandras, who finish tenth overall.

GT3
At the start, Yvon (#76 Aston Martin DBRS9) was first in Turn 1 ahead of Campbell (#75 Ferrari 430) and Vannelet (#74 Ferrari 430). Yvon could manage to pull out a small gap over both rivals. At the driver changes, Yvon was first, then Vannelet, Leclerc (#72 Lamborghini) and Giroix (#71 Lamborghini). Petit who had taken over from Vannelet, was very close to the DBRS9 driven now by Bastien Brière. They were neck and neck. Petit tried to pass, but Brière resisted. Petit could pass, but for a few metres only, for Brière overtook him again.

In the traffic, Brière finally escaped and claimed the second win of the weekend for the #76 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9. Giroix and Navarro were third at the wheel of the #71 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo.
Claude Foubert

FFSA GT3 Championship standings
1 Giroix 94
2 Brière / Yvon 83
3 Snobeck / Campbell 69

Result
1 NARAC R / AYARI S ORECA SALEEN S7-R GT1 55:00.546 1:17.762 / 7
2 LEBON Y / BOUCHUT C PSI EXPERIENCE CORVETTE C6-R GT1 55:20.973 20.427 1:18.420 / 4
3 HERNANDEZ B / GROPPI L ORECA SALEEN S7-R GT1 55:31.352 30.806 1:18.095 / 7
4 BORNHAUSER P / MAKOWIECKI F LARBRE COMPETITION ASTON MARTIN DBR 9 GT1 55:31.371 30.825 1:18.043 / 3
5 CAZENAVE L / CAYROLLE E SRT CORVETTE C5-7 GT1 55:37.476 36.930 1:19.212 / 6
6 BALTHAZARD G / POLICAND J LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES CORVETTE C5-R GT1 56:04.954 1:04.408 1:18.942 / 4
7 LESOUDIER G / BELTOISE A MIRABEAU MTO CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 55:02.841 1 Trs 1:20.110 / 5
8 DUPUY D / FIAT F PROTEK SALEEN S7-R GT1 55:40.016 1 Trs 1:19.523 / 3
9 DEBARD E / THEVENIN O TARRES TEAM SALEEN S7-R GT1 56:10.129 1 Trs 1:19.201 / 7
10 LECOURT M / BALANDRAS R IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT PORSCHE 997 RSR GT2 55:26.672 2 Trs 1:23.084 / 4
11 ADAM J Y / ZACCHIA S LARBRE COMPETITION FERRARI 550 Maranello GT1 55:34.749 2 Trs 1:19.436 / 3
12 YVON R / BRIERE B HEXIS RACING ASTON MARTIN DBRS 9 GT3 55:38.916 2 Trs 1:23.722 / 4
13 PETIT M / VANNELET G SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 55:42.449 2 Trs 1:24.131 / 3
14 NAVARRO N / GIROIX F FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 55:57.911 2 Trs 1:24.519 / 6
15 RODRIGUES M / RODRIGUES J HEXIS RACING ASTON MARTIN DBRS 9 GT3 56:23.951 2 Trs 1:24.487 / 5
16 SNOBECK D / CAMPBELL C SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 55:07.966 3 Trs 1:24.394 / 4
17 PEYROLES A / MOUREU D PILOTAGE PASSION DODGE VIPER GT3 55:14.855 3 Trs 1:25.003 / 6
18 MONTEIRO M / MONTEIRO C ESTORIL RACING PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 55:37.782 3 Trs 1:24.243 / 3
19 BRIGAND E / ISSARTEL F G C R DODGE VIPER GT3 55:46.726 3 Trs 1:25.261 / 3
20 CLAIRAY G / LAURIN J G C R DODGE VIPER GT3 55:47.551 3 Trs 1:26.077 / 21
21 LECLERC A / TUCHBANT D FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 55:51.064 3 Trs 1:24.368 / 4
22 MOUEZ E / LOGER D NOURRY COMPETITION PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 55:58.416 3 Trs 1:23.873 / 4
23 BRANDELA R / STEPEC T RED RACING PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 55:26.717 4 Trs 1:25.848 / 3
24 LELIEVRE F / POLETTE P IMSA PORSCHE ROUEN PORSCHE 996 CUP GT3 55:50.027 4 Trs 1:27.590 / 2
25 DUBREUIL B / AMADO U FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 55:59.236 4 Trs 1:25.155 / 12
26 MAILLET AVENEL N / PRIGNAUD G RED RACING CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 56:06.657 4 Trs 1:25.228 / 6
27 POLICE J C / ZANGARELLI M PSI EXPERIENCE CORVETTE C5-R GT1 32:35.321 16 Trs 1:19.700 / 4
28 CABANNES G / SOURD M RUFFIER RACING DODGE VIPER GT3 37:09.910 17 Trs 1:24.277 / 7
29 CORMORECHE D / PORTA O TARRES TEAM CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 11:06.965 32 Trs 1:21.611 / 5
30 BEROUJON C / MERAFINA W SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 4:29.679 37 Trs 1:25.308 / 3
31 ORGEVAL E / BOUVET J B PELSI RACING TOYOTA SUPRA BI TURBO GT2 1:42.237 39 Trs 1:42.237 / 1