FFSA GT – Nogaro – Race 1 Report
First DBR9 Victory

Qualifying
Right away, Raymond Narac (#9 Oreca Saleen S7R) is caught out by the cold track and goes spinning in one of the Oreca Saleens. Yvan Lebon (#17 PSI Corvette C6.R) was quickest in the early stages, then the recovering Raymond Narac improved on Lebon's lap time. Hernandez (#1 Oreca Saleen S7R) was third and Balthazard (#8 Luc Alphand Corvette C5-R) fourth. In the second part of the session, Bornhauser (#3 Larbre Aston Martin DBR9) was second, but Hernandez improved his time soon after - so Bornhauser improved too. Narac, still quickest, pitted to save his tyres, but Laurent Cazenave (#5 SRT C5-R) was pushing hard and set the pole position, ahead of Narac, Bornhauser, Hernandez, Debard (#4 Tarrès Team Saleen), Lebon and Balthazard. Thierry Soave (#7 Protek Saleen) did not take part in the session (oil pump)

Moureu (#75 Sport Garage Ferrari 430 GT3) was fastest in GT3, and in the GT2 Trophy, David Loger (#38 Nourry Compétition Porsche 996 RSR) set the pole ahead of Michel Lecourt (#36 IMSA Performance MATMUT Porsche).

Race 1
At the start, the track was dry. The pole man, Laurent Cazenave (#5 SRT C5-R) was first into Turn 1, ahead of Narac (#9 Oreca Saleen), Bornhauser (#3 Larbre Aston Martin), Hernandez (#1 Oreca Saleen), Debard (#4 Tarrès Saleen) and Lebon (#17 PSI C6.R).

Cazenave opened up a small gap on his pursuers, but Debard succeeded in passing Herrnandez’ Saleen. Then, the rain began to fall.

Cazenave pulled out a three second lead on Narac, who was soon passed by Bornhauser and Debard who closed the gap to Cazenave. So, before the driver changes, Cazenave remained in the lead, ahead of Bornhauser, Debard, Narac, Hernandez, Lebon and Balthazard (#8 Luc Alphand C5-R). Narac was first to pit.

Cazenave led while everyone else pitted, from Makowiecki (#3 Aston Martin) and then three Saleens - Ayari (#9 Oreca) and Thévenin (#4 Tarrès) and Groppi (#1 Oreca). Behind them, Dayraut (#17 PSI C6.R) was pushing hard and overtook Groppi for fifth place.

Cazenave pitted at last (lap 36) and Cayrolle took over from him. However, Makowiecki in the Larbre Aston Martin succeeded in getting ahead of the Corvette.

Thévenin passed Ayari, then Cayrolle, and the Tarres Saleen was second. Makowiecki and Thévenin had a large lead on Cayrolle, Ayari, Dayraut and Groppi who were fighting hard and put on a great show. Dayraut passed Ayari but could not overtake Cayrolle. Within three minutes of the chequered flag, Dayraut moved up to third place, while Groppi attacked Ayar,i but unsuccessfully. Frédéric Makowiecki eventually won the race (the first ever for an Aston Martin in the FFSA GT Championship). Thévenin / Debard were in second place, ahead of Dayraut / Lebon, Cazenave / Cayrolle, Ayari / Narac and Groppi / Hernandez.

GT2/3
Moureu (#75 Sport Garage Ferrari 430 GT3) led until the pit stops, but Petit in the #70 Sport Garage Ferrari lost control and hit the barrier front of the pits. A few moments later, Dubreuil stopped his Lamborghini and retired too. Peyrolles and Moureu were exchanging the lead. After the driver changes, Campbell took over from Moureu and was leading the field but he had an off at the end of the airport straight and lost precious time.

So, Peyroles/Lesoudier were the winners in #78, in spite of the pressure from Brière / Dellus in the #76 Hexis Aston Martin. Tuchbant / Leclerc (#72 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) were third.

In the GT2 Trophy, Michel Lecourt had a difficult start, leaving the track, but he and Balandras claimed another win, as in every race since the start of the season.

A BIG smile from Fred Makowiecki...
Claude Foubert

Result
1 3 GT1 Bornhauser/Makowiecki Larbre / Aston Martin DBR9 1:00:23.100 39 1:28.055
2 4 GT1 Debard/Thevenin Tarres Team / Saleen S7-R 1:00:27.448 39 4.348 1:27.484
3 17 GT1 Lebon/Dayraut PSI Experience / Corvette C6-R 1:00:42.615 39 19.515 1:27.981
4 5 GT1 Cazenave/Cayrolle SRT / Corvette C5-R 1:00:46.883 39 23.783 1:28.083
5 9 GT1 Narac/Ayari Oreca / Saleen S7-R 1:00:47.627 39 24.527 1:28.499
6 1 GT1 Hernandez/Groppi Oreca / Saleen S7-R 1:00:47.930 39 24.830 1:28.022
7 8 GT1 Balthazard/Policand Luc Alphand / Corvette C5-R 1:01:46.947 39 1:23.847 1:29.116
8 10 GT1 Brandela/Lasserre Mirebeau MTO / Viper GTS-R 1:01:43.693 38 1 LAP 1:31.191
9 36 GT2 Lecourt/Balandras IMSA Perf'nce / Porsche 997 RSR 1:01:54.702 38 1 LAP 1:32.419
10 78 GT3 Peyroles/Lesoudier Sport Garage / Ferrari 430 GT3 1:00:43.672 37 2 LAPS 1:33.516
11 76 GT3 Brière/Dellus Hexis R'ng / Aston Martin DBRS9 1:00:44.554 37 2 LAPS 1:33.707
12 72 GT3 Tuchbant/Leclerc First Rng /Lamborghini Gallardo 1:00:59.259 37 2 LAPS 1:34.512
13 91 GT3 Champeau/Almeras Alpha Sport Com Porsche 997 Cup 1:01:01.338 37 2 LAPS 1:33.832
14 94 GT3 Ruffier/Ruffier Ruffier Racing / Dodge Viper 1:01:11.006 37 2 LAPS 1:32.902
15 39 GT2 Lefranc/Bera Red Racing / Porsche 996 RSR 1:01:15.224 37 2 LAPS 1:33.633
16 38 GT2 Loger/Mouez Nourry Comp'n / Porsche 996 RSR 1:01:30.649 37 2 LAPS 1:31.793
17 75 GT3 Moureu/Campbell Sport Garage / Ferrari 430 GT3 1:00:36.365 36 3 LAPS 1:33.685
18 90 GT3 Ballay/Scheier Boutsen R'ng / Ferrari 430 GT3 1:01:01.583 36 3 LAPS 1:33.247
19 70 GT3 Dubreuil/Amado First Rng /Lamborghini Gallardo 1:01:46.718 36 3 LAPS 1:33.487
20 68 GT3 Lepreux/Morel Ruffier Racing / Dodge Viper 1:01:11.840 35 4 LAPS 1:36.855
21 63 GT3 Polette/Derlot IMSA Rouen / Porsche 996 Cup 1:01:12.743 35 4 LAPS 1:33.280
77 GT3 Rodrigues/Rodrigues Hexis R'ng / Aston Martin DBRS9 45:37.382 24 D.N.F. 1:34.071
95 GT3 Sicart/Rannuci JMB Racing / Ferrari 430 GT3 40:41.242 23 D.N.F. 1:35.246
93 GT3 Samon/Bouche Nourry Comp'n / Porsche 997 Cup 38:08.995 21 D.N.F. 1:38.662
37 GT2 Monteiro/Monteiro Estoril R'ng / Porsche 996 RSR 1:01:10.662 18 N.C.F. 1:34.081
67 GT3 Cabannes/Sourd Ruffier Racing / Dodge Viper 12:41.261 7 D.N.F. 1:38.745
74 GT3 Petit/Vannelet Sport Garage / Ferrari 430 GT3 6:27.166 4 D.N.F. 1:33.546