International GT Open – Spa Race Reports
Flag To Flag Win For Fässler and Moser

Pro Am Race

It took only five races for Swiss team Trottet Racing to clinch its first victory in the International GT Open; this coming in Saturday’s Pro-Am race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, which the series was visiting for the first time. Former DTM-star Marcel Fässler and reigning FIA GT3 champion Henri Moser – who were subbing for Iradj Alexander and Xavier Pompidou (busy at Le Mans) - had no trouble in achieving a flag-to-flag win from pole; finishing ahead of championship leaders Andrea Montermini and Michele Maceratesi (Playteam Ferrari F430) - who were out of contention for victory because of their 25s handicap, but who reinforced their position in the overall standings. Third and, again, on the podium, was one of the EdilCris Ferraris, with Matteo Cressoni and Lorenzo Bontempelli.

In GTS, a Lamborghini Gallardo claimed its fourth victory in five races, with Mik Corse’s Giacomo Piccini and Enrico Moncada clinching a deserved maiden victory after a superb race, which saw the car running as high as fourth overall in the initial laps.

Shortly before the start, rain appeared in the Ardennes and everybody prepared for a wet race; but as the field sat on the grid, the dry weather returned and most of the teams changed back to slicks - with the notable exceptions of the Advanced Engineering Ferraris of Maurizio Mediani and Damien Pasini and the Sun-Red SR21 of JMP Aicart; who all stopped immediately to change tyres, losing any chance of a good result.

At the start, poleman Fässler had no trouble in taking the lead; keeping Montermini, Monfardini, Sundberg, Mediani, Piccini, Caffi and Bontempelli behind him. The opening  laps first saw an inspired Piccini climbing up to fourth overall with the GTS Gallardo; and then Bontempelli taking fourth position after battling with Caffi and Sundberg, who spun in the chicane.

The gap between Fässler and Montermini was reduced to a couple of seconds shortly before the pit-stop, but the 25s of handicap to be served by the Playteam Ferrari gave sufficient margin to the Trottet F430, with young Henri Moser keeping complete control of events, until the chequered flag. The second part of the race saw another charge from Richard Lietz in the Autorlando Porsche; the Austrian climbing ten positions to finish fourth in between the two Edil Cris Ferraris of Cressoni and Frezza. The second Playteam of Gião/Couceiro took sixth, ahead of the Drivex Porsche of De Castro/Chacón; who ran a nice race from last place on the grid.

In GTS, the Mik Corse Gallardo slid progressively in the overall rankings, but never lost the class lead; while the Twentytwo Corvette took second after that the Roger Ferrari of Julià/Pampló was stranded after running out of fuel on the last lap. The Villois Aston Martin of Romanini/Petrini finished third, after a lively race which saw contact with the sister car of the squad; obliging Wiser/Ricci to retire.

The Advanced Engineering Ferrari F430 #12 had to be withdrawn after Peter Bamford damaged it severely in an accident in qualifying.

GT Open Race

Advanced Engineering took a resounding victory in Sunday’s Spa GT Open, with Michele Rugolo and Maurizio Mediani imposing their F430 ahead of the sister car of Alessandro Bonetti and Damien Pasini; in a thrilling finale which saw contact between the two cars in the last corner. Third place went to the Playteam Ferrari of Portuguese pair Gião/Couceiro. The race, taking place in perfect weather conditions, was marked by a three-lap safety car period shortly before the driver changes, caused by oil spilled on the track. Montermini and Maceratesi (81 points) retained the lead in the Dunlop-supported championship and are now followed by Rugolo (61), Gião/Couceiro (60) and Bonetti/Pasini (56).

The battle in GTS ended with the first success of the season for an Aston Martin DBRS9 and for Villois Racing, thanks to Max Wiser and GP2 driver Giacomo Ricci; who came ahead of the Mik Gallardo of Piccini/Moncada and the Roger Ferrari of Pampló/Julià.

At the start, poleman Lietz (Autorlando Porsche) could not keep the advantage for long and Maceratesi took the lead in the Playteam Ferrari; while Bonetti also passed the Porsche a short while later. Couceiro, Frezza, Romero, Chacón, Cressoni and Moser followed.

On lap six, the Racing Box Gallardo of Visconti broke its engine, leaving oil on one of the corners in the upper part of the track. Petrini, Frezza and even the leader, Maceratesi, could not avoid spinning; and this led to the intervention of the safety car for three laps. After the yellow period, almost everybody stopped for the driver change. With minimal gaps between the cars, the race swung to the advantage of the AE Ferraris of Mediani and Pasini, with Roda in third.

The Porsche was soon passed by Giao and Sundberg (who had to stop for a drive-through because of an earlier contact between Romero and Moser), while the battle was fierce between Monfardini, Bontempelli, Merino and Aguas. This aggressive group soon caught and passed Roda; with Aguas winning the final sprint for fourth, after Merino (excellent in the GPC Ferrari) was hit by Roda.

In GTS, the initial domination of Cioci in the Twentytwo Corvette ended on lap six when the car stopped with a mechanical problem; leaving the lead to the previous day’s winners - the Mik Gallardo of Piccini/Moncada - and later to the Roger Ferrari of Julià/Pampló. But after the yellow period and the driver changes, it was the Villois Aston of Wiser/Ricci that prevailed.

Provisional International GT Open standings

Overall: 1. Montermini-Maceratesi, 81 p; 2. Rugolo, 61; 3. Gião-Couceiro, 60; 4. Bonetti-Pasini, 56; 5. Monfardini-Frezza, 51; 6. Lietz-Roda, 44; 7. Cressoni-Bontempelli, 36; 8. Ceccato-Visconti, 35; 9. Pellizzato-Cioci, 32; 10. Wiser, 29; 11. Tavano, 28, etc.

GTA: 1. Montermini-Maceratesi, 36 p.; 2. Rugolo, 26; 3. Pasini-Bonetti, 24; 4. Gião-Couceiro, 24; 5. Monfardini-Frezza, 20; 6. Lietz-Roda, 17, etc

GTS: 1. Cioci-Pellizzato, 32 p.; 2. Ceccato-Visconti, 30; 3. Wiser, 29; 4. Ricci, 26; 5. Moncada, 25; 6. Petrini-Romanini, 19;  etc

Teams: 1. Scuderia Playteam, 60 p.; 2. Advanced Engineering, 50; 3. Edil Cris, 32; 4. Autorlando Sport, Trottet Racing, 17; 5. Racing Box, RSV motorsport, 3.