GT Open, Valencia - Race Two Reports
Last Lap Drama In GTS, While AF Corse Takes A Second SGT Win

GTS Race Two

Italians Andrea Ceccato and Uccio Salucci, on one of the Kessel Racing’s Ferrari F430 Scuderia (the one bearing the legendary nr. 46 of their friend Valentino Rossi) took an unexpected and brilliant win in GTS’ Race 2, in front of teammates Livio-Bontempelli and the Phoenix Audi R8 of Tiemann-Matthews, which dominated the first stint. The race was rain-soaked and had a dramatic finale, when the leading Ferrari of Dayrault suffered a mechanical failure and Ceccato overtook Livio after a furious fight.

Tiemann took the lead at the start in front of Frezza, Bontempelli, Ortelli, Lancieri, Scheier and Salucci, on a very wet track where visibility was an issue. The Autorlando Porsche of Gruber went off track on lap 2, remaining trapped in the gravel for a moment, as did Frezza on lap 5, while Scheier passed Lancieri for fourth.

The Audi dominated until the pit-stop. After all driver changes were done, Matthews had to let Dayrault take the lead but he resisted the attacks of Ceccato. There was a slight contact between the two on lap 20 and Livio took the opportunity to pass both for second. The two Kessels were now chasing the leading Luxury Ferrari and fighting between themselves.

The end of the race was spectacular, with Dayrault suffering a drive-shaft failure on the final lap and Ceccato overtaking and touching Livio a few corners from the flag, to take a superb victory; as he did two years ago here, in similar conditions with the Racing Box Lambo. The Audi was third ahead of the Villois Aston, the second Luxury car and the RPM Ford GT, while Escamez-Monzon won among the Spanish championship contenders with their Lambo Gallardo.

Standings GTS: 1.Ceccato-Salucci, 13; 2.Matthews-Tiemann, Deverikos-Gruber, 10; 4. Livio-Bontempelli, 8; 5.Dayrault-Ortelli, 6; etc

Super GT Race Two

Alvaro Barba and Pierre Kaffer repeated Saturday’s victory in the second Valencia race, taking control in the overall standings and giving their boss, Amato Ferrari a perfect birthday present. Dry weather eventually graced this race, allowing the Porsches to improve their handling. Pilet-Narac, in the IMSA machine, finished second and the Autorlando car of Lietz-Roda fourth, sandwiching the Aurora F430 of Lopez-Giao.

Pilet took the lead at the start but was not be able to build a big gap on Kaffer, Aguas, Lietz and Mullen (whose bonnet would soon start to open), while Giao, Giammaria and Kaufmann fought closely for sixth. Gaps among the top cars remained very tight, and positions stable, with only Cruz Martins climbing up positions.

On lap 16, when the driver changes had started (and Kaffer had stopped), Aguas managed to pass Pilet, who was then overtaken also by Lietz but regained his position soon after; the start a great duel between the two.

After all pit stops had been completed, Narac led by three seconds from Roda, Barba, Gerber, López, Niarchos and Toccacelo. With Barba closing up on the two leading Porsches, the final part of the race lived up to its promise; the Spaniard passing Roda on lap 21 and taking the lead from Narac on lap 24, to capture a second consecutive win for AF Corse.

The Aurora Ferrari of Cruz Martins crossed the line second but lost three positions for not having served its entire time handicap. On the last lap, contact between Toccacelo and Gerber caused both to fall out of the top ten.

Standings GT Open: 1. Barba-Kaffer, 44; 2. Ceccato-Salucci, 25; 3.Roda-Lietz, 24; 4.Giao-Lopez, 21; 5. Matthews-Tiemann, 19; 6.Giammaria-Toccacelo, Livio-Bontempelli, Narac-Pilet, 18; etc