FFSA GT - Paul Ricard - Race 2 Report
1-2-3 for the Corvettes, first win for the Sport Garage BMW Alpina

Qualifying
In the qualifying session for race 2, for the top-seeded drivers, Soheil Ayari (#9 Luc Alphand Aventures C6.R) had been first quickest, ahead of  Panis (#3 DKR Engineering C6.R), Olivier Porta (#4 Tarrès Team Saleen S7R), Laurent Cazenave (#5 DKR Engineering C5-R), Laurent Groppi (#1 Larbre Saleen S7R) and Eric Cayrolle (#7 SRT C6.R).

At the start, Ayari kept the benefit of his pole position and was first in Turn 1, ahead of the two SRT Corvettes, Panis and Cazenave.

However, as on Saturday, the LAA Corvette had a puncture at high speed. Ayari could crawl to the pits but the C6.R was too badly damaged and the car was retired. So, Panis was now in the lead and kept his position until the driver changes.

Eric Debard took over from Panis and was still in first place while Bornhauser (#1 Larbre Saleen) and Police (#5 DKR Corvette) were fighting. Meanwhile, Stéphane Richelmi, outstanding behind the wheel of the #7 SRT C6.R had moved up quickly to the front and was now chasing after Debard for the win.

In the late stages, he was very close to Debard and, as in race 1, the DKR Corvette had spoiled the result of Richelmi/Cayrolle, Debard did not resist, Richelmi passing him and taking the win.

For third place, Police succeeded in passing Bornhauser for a 1-2-3 Corvette.

Championship standings : 1 Debard 239 - 2 Groppi/Hernandez 229 - 3 Cazenave/Police 214

GT3

Qualifying
Stéphane Ortelli (#68 ORECA Audi R8 LMS) had the set the pole position, ahead of Mike Parisy (#64 Ruffier Racing Lamborghini Gallarrdo) had set the pole position, Frédéric Makowiecki (#52 AS Events Ferrari 430 Scuderia) and Jérôme Policand (#35 Sport Garage BMW Alpina).

At the start, Parisy jumped ahead the polesitter Ortelli and was leading the field, ahead of Makowiecki, Ortelli and Policand who kept the contact with the leaders

The race was eventful behind the first four cars, with a lot of spins : Thévenin (#59 Ruffier Racing Gallardo), Moulin-Traffort (#66 Mediaco Dodge Viper), Levy (#65 Mediaco Dodge Viper) who went into the guardrail, Charpilienne (#48 AS Events Ferrari 430 Scuderia)...For his part, Christopher Campbell (#55 AS EventsFerrari 430 Scuderia) had to retire due to back axle problems.

During the pitstop, Gaillard who took over from Parisy was trapped by the traffic on the pitlane and was much delayed. After the driver changes, David Hallyday's Audi R8 LMS was in the lead, but he was soon threatened by Thierry Prignaud (#35 BMW Alpina) who was pushing hard and charging on Hallyday. He eventually passed him and claimed the first win of the Sport Garage BMW, a huge satisfaction for the team after the Albi fire on the pitlane!

Hallyday and Ortelli were runner-ups and Briché/Tardif (#53 JSB Compétition Gallardo) in third place.

Championship standings : 1 Amado/Dubreuil (First Racing Gallardo) 178 - 2 Gaillard/Parisy (Ruffier Racing Gallardo) 174 - 3 Peyroles (Ruffier Racing Gallardo) 158

 Race Results
1 7 GT1 Cayrolle/Richelmi Corvette C6R 1:00:57.707 28  160.99
2 3 GT1 Panis/Debard Corvette C6R 1:00:58.883 28 1.176 160.94
3 5 GT1 Cazenave/Police Corvette C5R 1:01:33.382 28 35.675 159.44
4 1 GT1 Groppi/Bornhauser Saleen S7R 1:01:34.612 28 36.905 159.38
5 4 GT1 Porta/Cormoreche Saleen S7R 1:01:39.859 28 42.152 159.16
6 35 GT3 Policand/Prignaud BMW Alpina 1:01:22.506 27 1 LAP 154.20
7 68 GT3 Ortelli/Hallyday Audi R8 LMS 1:01:31.157 27 1 LAP 153.83
8 53 GT3 Briche/Tardif Lamborghini Gallardo 1:01:37.753 27 1 LAP 153.56
9 54 GT3 Leclerc/Tuchbant Lamborghini Gallardo 1:01:42.262 27 1 LAP 153.37
10 58 GT3 Amado/Dubreuil Lamborghini Gallardo 1:01:45.580 27 1 LAP 153.24
11 64 GT3 Parisy/Gaillard Lamborghini Gallardo 1:01:46.220 27 1 LAP 153.21
12 34 GT3 Dymond/Brandela BMW Alpina 1:01:56.169 27 1 LAP 152.80
13 59 GT3 Thevenin/Peyroles Lamborghini Gallardo 1:02:01.956 27 1 LAP 152.56
14 48 GT3 Charpilienne/Demay Ferrari 430 Scuderia 1:02:02.340 27 1 LAP 152.55
15 71 GT3 Loger/Vouillon Porsche 997 Cup S 1:02:17.216 27 1 LAP 151.94
16 52 GT3 MacKowiecki/Adam Ferrari 430 Scuderia 1:02:34.825 27 1 LAP 151.23
17 57 GT3 Helary/Cabanne Lamborghini Gallardo 1:02:36.137 27 1 LAP 151.17
18 67 GT3 France/France Dodge Viper 1:03:10.619 27 1 LAP 149.80
19 66 GT3 Traffort/Lamic Dodge Viper 1:01:47.868 26 2 LAPS 147.47
20 56 GT3 Madelaine/Priez Lamborghini Gallardo 1:01:52.639 26 2 LAPS 147.28
21 69 GT3 Ruffier/Petit Dodge Viper 53:55.152 23 5 LAPS 149.51

Non classified
-- 55 GT3 Campbell/Jakubowski Ferrari 430 Scuderia 56:25.314 18 D.N.F. 111.82
-- 65 GT3 Levy/Barthez Dodge Viper 24:48.051 11 D.N.F. 155.46
-- 9 GT1 Ayari/Hernandez Corvette C6R 20:50.062 10 D.N.F. 168.24

Claude Foubert