GT1 World, Portimao - Championship Race Report

All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport secured its second win of the season and the first Championship Race win at the Autódromo Internacional do Algarve this afternoon. Thomas Jäger and Nicky Pastorelli beat their teammates Markus Winkelhock and Marc Basseng in an exciting race in the Algarve.

Into turn one the leaders made no mistakes, but behind them Gregoire Demoustier, Toni Vilander, Matteo Cressoni and Frank Stippler hit each other. Vilander retired in the pit at the end of lap one, while Stippler returned with a puncture. He would rejoin several laps down, but after another spin - due to a damage suspension - the WRT team called it a day and retired the #33 Audi.

Marc Basseng, Fred Makowiecki, Yelmer Buurman stayed out of trouble through turn one and stayed together until the pit stop window opened. Basseng kept the lead all the time, but the gap between him and Makowiecki never exceeded a second, with Buurman just two tenths of a second behind Makowiecki and waiting for a mistake by the two drivers ahead of him. After 16 laps Basseng and Buurman pitted at the same time, while Makowiecki stayed out for an extra lap. Nicky Pastorelli had come in as soon as the pit window had opened and handed over his car to Thomas Jäger.

Both Markus Winkelhock and Michael Bartels lost some time in the pit and as a result Winkelhock rejoined the race only just in front of Thomas Jäger. The two teammates fought for position, but instead of fighting for the race lead they suddenly saw the Hexis Racing McLaren of Stef Dusseldorp rejoining from the pit in front of them on the next time by. Dusseldorp only briefly led the race, but soon after Jäger had passed his own teammate the #37 Mercedes also passed Dusseldorp. Despite his effors Dusseldorp was unable to keep his position and one lap later the second Mercedes also overtook the Dutchman.

In the remaining laps Jäger managed to create a small lead over Winkelhock, who on his turn pulled away from Dusseldorp. The Hexis driver came under pressure from Michael Bartels, but the German was unable to pass the McLaren. On the last lap Bartels tried to block Peter Kox and there was some contact between the BMW and the Lamborghini. Kox did not give up and moved around to the other side to pass Bartels and claim fourth.

After 33 laps it was Jäger who crossed the line in first place, 1.5 seconds clear of Winkelhock and five seconds ahead of Dusseldorp.

The next round of the FIA GT1 World Championship will take place in...we'll hear soon.