FFSA GTs – Ledenon, Race 1 – April 28
Race 1 To Hernandez / Groppi
Oreca 1-2

Qualifying
Eric Debard (#4 Tarrès Team Saleen S7R) set the first significant lap time, 1'22''68. Very soon, Raymond Narac (#9 Oreca Saleen S7R) improved on Debard's lap time, ahead of Hernandez (#1 Oreca Saleen S7R), Police (#16 PSI Corvette C5-R) and Lebon (#17 PSI Corvette C6.R). However positions were changing with a fight for the pole position between Narac, Hernandez and Cayrolle (#5 SRT Corvette C5-R). Behind the three drivers, Debard, fourth quickest, was ahead of Bornhauser (#3 ANAVEO Larbre Aston Martin DBR9), Balthazard (#8 Luc Alphand Corvette C5-R), Police and Lebon. While most of drivers pitted, Bornhauser set a strong pace. He was soon second quickest and was threatening Narac with a 1'18''738, but stayed second, ahead of Cayrolle, Hernandez (#1), Debard, Lebon, Balthazard and Police.

In the GT2 Trophy, contact between Michel Lecourt (#36 IMSA MATMUT Porsche 997 RSR) and Eric Mouez (#38 Nourry Compétition Porsche 996 RSR) ruined the session for both men. Brandela (#39 Red Racing Porsche 996 RSR) and Claude Monteiro (#37 Estoril Racing Porsche RSR) scrapped over the pole, Monteiro eventually ending up quickest. Lecourt would have to start at the back of the grid.

FFSA GT3: Cyril Hélias couldn't make it to Lédenon and a newcomer, Nicolas Navarro, who previously drove in the Formula Renault Championship, was at the wheel of the #71 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo and claimed the pole position for his first race, ahead of Bastien Brière (#76 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9), Mickael Petit (#74 Sport Garage Ferrari 430); Bruno Dubreuil (#70 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) and Dany Snobeck (#75 Sport Garage Ferrari 430).

Race 1

As at Nogaro, Raymond Narac was very slow during the formation lap before the green flag, causing confusion among his rivals. He was first into Turn 1, ahead of Cazenave (#5 SRT C5-R) who had overtaken Bornhauser's DBR9.

Soon, Narac and Cazenave opened a gap on the rest of the field. Behind them, Bornhauser was fighting with Hernandez's Saleen, while Lebon (#17 PSI C5-R), in fifth place was ahead Debard (#4 Tarrès Saleen), Balthazard (#8 LAA C5-R) and Police (#16 PSI C5-R).

On the tenth lap Cazenave passed Narac in the traffic and was the new leader, but Narac was very close to him. “The fight with Narac was a very good one, his Saleen was maybe somewhat better, but I was faster in overtaking the backmarkers,” said Cazenave. Three laps later, Hernandez passed Bornhauser for third place. Bornhauser pitted first (Makowiecki in) but Cazenave stayed out longer than most and stopped at mid-race (Cayrolle in). Cayrolle resumed in the lead, followed by the two Oreca Saleens, Ayari (#9 S7R) ahead of Laurent Groppi (#1 S7R). Makowiecki, on his first lap, had an off and went into the gravel.

Ayari caught up with Cayrolle who resisted, and Groppi took advantage to catch both men. Ayari succeeded in passing Cayrolle (lap 25). On the next lap, Groppi overtook Cayrolle for second place and approached Ayari's exhaust, but the latter held onto a small gap. But Groppi was pushing hard and passed his team-mate in the Virage du Pont (lap 35) and claimed his first win, ahead Ayari / Hernandez and Cazenave / Cayrolle.

In the last few laps, Christophe Bouchut (#17 PSI C5-R) moved up to fourth place, taking advantage of Policand's braking troubles, and also passing his teammate Zangarelli (#16 PSI C5-R)

Bruno Hernandez: "I believe I could have fought Narac and Cazenave but I lost much time behind Bornhauser's Aston Martin, which I couldn't pass. So, my mission was to save our tyres, so I didn't take any risk. I could get close to Bornhauser in the traffic and then he made a mistake. I managed the end of my stint, thinking only about tyres. Laurent Groppi, who took over from me did a great job so that we could win this race."

Laurent Groppi: "I knew that I was in third place when I took over from Bruno, and I wanted to be on the podium. I soon realizd that Bruno had perfectly saved the tyres. The car was as new, very quick and I could set a strong pace. Soheil Ayari was losing some time in his fight with Cayrolle. It was a great fight, a great show. I could see Hugues de Chaunac making signs in the pits to be very careful. I tried to pass Soheil cleanly, he was very sporting and didn't resist. It is a fine win, but it won't be easy with the ballast. It is my first win in a GT car ever, my first one with Bruno, so we're going to appreciate it before thinking about tomorrow.”

GT2 Trophy
Though they had started from the back of the grid, Lecourt / Balandras were the winner, claiming their third win in a row and finishing eleventh overall.

FFSA GT3
Brière (#76 Aston Martin) was the best starter while Navarro (#71 Lamborghini) and Petit (#74 Ferrari 430) had a misunderstanding. Brière pitted in first place. After the driver changes, Gilles Vannelet (Ferrari 430) took the lead but had a drive through penalty soon after. Romain Yvon, who had taken over from Brière, was back in the lead and claimed the first win for the Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9, ahead of Navarro / Giroix (#71 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) and Merafina / Beroujon (#78 Sport Garage Ferrari 430).

Result
1 HERNANDEZ B / GROPPI L ORECA SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h00:39.361 1:18.652 / 27
2 NARAC R / AYARI S ORECA SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h00:59.596 20.235 1:19.585 / 27
3 CAZENAVE L / CAYROLLE E SRT CORVETTE C5-7 GT1 1h01:25.353 45.992 1:19.711 / 4
4 LEBON Y / BOUCHUT C PSI EXPERIENCE CORVETTE C6-R GT1 1h01:38.249 58.888 1:20.211 / 38
5 POLICE J C / ZANGARELLI M PSI EXPERIENCE CORVETTE C5-R GT1 1h01:46.605 1:07.244 1:21.243 / 30
6 DEBARD E / THEVENIN O TARRES TEAM SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h00:41.562 1 Trs 1:20.787 / 22
7 DUPUY D / FIAT F PROTEK SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:23.440 1 Trs 1:21.354 / 35
8 BALTHAZARD G / POLICAND J LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES CORVETTE C5-R GT1 1h02:07.274 1 Trs 1:20.491 / 23
9 CORMORECHE D / PORTA O TARRES TEAM CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 1h01:03.815 2 Trs 1:22.886 / 33
10 YVON R / BRIERE B HEXIS RACING ASTON MARTIN DBRS 9 GT3 1h01:52.289 2 Trs 1:24.861 / 5
11 LECOURT M / BALANDRAS R IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT PORSCHE 997 RSR GT2 1h00:46.269 3 Trs 1:24.511 / 37
12 NAVARRO N / GIROIX F FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h00:51.636 3 Trs 1:25.064 / 14
13 BEROUJON C / MERAFINA W SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 1h01:02.675 3 Trs 1:25.129 / 12
14 SNOBECK D / CAMPBELL C SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 1h01:17.974 3 Trs 1:25.269 / 26
15 LECLERC A / TUCHBANT D FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h01:25.417 3 Trs 1:24.516 / 23
16 PEYROLES A / MOUREU D PILOTAGE PASSION DODGE VIPER GT3 1h02:02.290 3 Trs 1:25.991 / 3
17 DUBREUIL B / AMADO U FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h02:09.931 3 Trs 1:26.019 / 3
18 MOUEZ E / LOGER D NOURRY COMPETITION PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 1h01:12.410 4 Trs 1:25.050 / 21
19 CABANNES G / SOURD M RUFFIER RACING DODGE VIPER GT3 1h01:16.401 4 Trs 1:25.266 / 13
20 CLAIRAY G / LAURIN J G C R DODGE VIPER GT3 1h01:22.017 4 Trs 1:26.275 / 5
21 LELIEVRE F / POLETTE P IMSA PORSCHE ROUEN PORSCHE 996 CUP GT3 1h02:01.071 5 Trs 1:28.726 / 23
22 BRANDELA R / STEPEC T RED RACING PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 1h01:28.681 8 Trs 1:26.612 / 4
23 PETIT M / VANNELET G SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 44:26.752 15 Trs 1:25.162 / 27
24 MAILLET AVENEL N / PRIGNAUD G RED RACING CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 37:13.090 20 Trs 1:26.163 / 5
25 LESOUDIER G / BELTOISE A MIRABEAU MTO CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 45:35.357 24 Trs 1:22.756 / 19
26 BORNHAUSER P / MACKOWIECKI F LARBRE COMPETITION ASTON MARTIN DBR 9 GT1 25:47.177 26 Trs 1:20.216 / 7
27 BRIGAND E / ISSARTEL F G C R DODGE VIPER GT3 16:26.537 33 Trs 1:26.925 / 6
28 ADAM J Y / ZACCHIA S LARBRE COMPETITION FERRARI 550 Maranello GT1 6:14.758 40 Trs 1:28.871 / 4