FIA GT Championship - Silverstone – Preview
Nige Adds To The Attraction Zhuhai got the season off to an eventful start in March, and whether by plane or ship, all the cars made it back to Europe in time for this weekend’s second round of the championship – the races over two hours this year, of course. China saw a Lamborghini Murcielago grab first FIA GT victory, Christophe Bouchut taking advantage of a safety car period to get out in front of the pack, and stay there. But Bouchut isn’t available this week (he’s racing at Valencia), so Stefan Mucke, who is racing in both events (as is Jean-Denis Deletraz) will be dashing to and fro. Drivers are used to that sort of thing – Mucke having won at Zhuhai then flown straight to the south of France, to shine in the Charouz Lola at Paul Ricard. Bouchut is replaced by none other than Frank Biela in the #7 All-Inkl.com Lamborghini – Biela’s first race in something other than an Audi since heaven knows when. Oh, Bouchut isn't replaced by Biela: Frank's needed in the DTM as cover for the recovering Tom Kristensen. In terms of the regular GT1 entries, there are very few changes since the first round: Aston Martin Racing BMS has Enrico Toccacelo joining Ferdinando Monfardini in the #22 DBR9, while the similar car from Barwell Motorsport has Piers Johnson making his GT1 debut, with Jonny Cocker. Fellow former British GT man Luke Hines got his GT1 career off to a spectacular start in China, he and Philipp Peter coming second in the PSI Corvette – but perhaps China wasn’t indicative of 2007 form? Kumpen / Longin finished a fine third in March, followed by Babini / Davies, Deletraz / Hezemans and Biagi / Bartels – but the last-named didn’t score points, having not completed the required time at the wheel. That could be significant at the end of the season. Bartels was a winner in this event last year, but 2006 team-mate Andrea Bertolini is now a rival in one of the Playteam Maseratis. The GT Bureau of the FIA has announced that from this weekend, the Aston Martin DBR9s can use 31.2 mm restrictors instead of 30.4, with their stated aim being “balance of performance”. Five cars will benefit from the change: two Aston Martin Racing BMS, two Jetalliance and the Barwell Motorsport entry. "Incomprehensible," is Jean-Denis Deletraz's response (citing the performance of the Phoenix Aston Martin which he and Piccini raced to the win at Dubai at the end of 2006), the Swiss driver also unhappy about the safety car deployment in China. Deletraz will drive the middle stint in the race (Hezemans to start and finish) and will then rush to Luton by helicopter, then fly to Valencia in time to finish the 1000 Kms in the Lola Audi. “It certainly won’t do us any harm,” says Karl Wendlinger, of the restrictor change. “But even without this modification I would have had a good feeling. On one hand the track with its various medium-speed to fast corners suits our car, on the other I enjoy this circuit very much myself, and finally, my partner Ryan Sharp also knows Silverstone very well. Hence there are a lot of factors that should benefit a successful outcome.” It’s unlikely to begin the way the team’s maiden event in 2006 began… Jetalliance owner Lukas Lichtner-Hoyer was involved in the introduction of the Citation Cup, as he explains: “I was fascinated by Stephane Ratel’s idea to steer GT racing back to its original direction – a greater involvement of amateur drivers. Since most of the drivers are rather well-heeled – and therefore the clientele of Jetalliance as well – I established contact with the cup’s sponsor Cessna, the largest global manufacturer of business jets.” Six cars will be competing for the Citation Cup, as noted on the entry list. This new concept means that the series swings back towards gentlemen drivers as well as professionals, having been distinctly ‘professional only’ (largely so anyway) in recent seasons.  So how would you classify Nigel Mansell? Pro or gentleman? And what dramas has he got up his sleeve for Sunday’s race? It’s been a long time since he lit up Donington Park in the BTCC. Scuderia Ecosse’s Stewart Roden jumped at the chance to put Nigel in one of his cars (replacing the injured Tomas Enge), and Chris Niarchos is Mansell’s partner. Coincidentally, Enge and Mansell typically display the same kind of bravado behind the wheel. What is Mansell going to do for the crowd figures?
“The circuit has been good to me over the years so I hope we can have a good race and put on a great show for everyone who comes down to watch us,” says the man who might have raced a Risi Ferrari this year. That’s what Jaime Melo is doing this year, but he’s back in an AF Corse car this weekend, replacing Stephane Ortelli. The 2006 champions secured a 1-2 in Zhuhai, but only after the BMS Porsche was excluded from the win for a ride height infringement. Mullen / Enge were third in China, but this time it’s Mullen and Kirkaldy racing together: these two against the AF Corse Ferraris should be the highlight of the GT2 race around the Grand Prix track, which ought to favour the 430s over the 997s. The Ferrari numbers grow with the arrival of the black Edil Cris 430s (Paolo Ruberti the star here), but the Tech 9 Porsche will be a threat too (Sean Edwards / Leo Machitski). With GT3s, GT4s and GT90s also racing this weekend, it’s a packed programme for GT fans in the UK. Friday, May 4
09.00 – 09.50 GT4 European Cup Free Practice 1 50’
10.00 – 10.30 GT 90s Revival Free Practice 1 30’
10.45 – 11.45 FIA GT3 European Championship Free Practice 1 60’
12.00 – 12.50 GT4 European Cup Free Practice 2 50’
13.30 – 13.45 Supercar Tour Parade
14.00 – 14.30 GT 90s Revival Free Practice 2 30’
14.45 – 15.15 GT4 European Cup Qualifying Practice 1 30’
15.30 – 16.30 FIA GT3 European Championship Free Practice 2 60’
16.45 – 17.15 GT4 European Cup Qualifying Practice 2 30’
17.30 – 18.05 GT 90s revival Qualifying Practice 15/5/15 Saturday, May 5
09.00 – 10.20 FIA GT Championship Free Practice 1 80’
10.35 – 11.25 FIA GT3 European Championship Qualifying Practice 20/10/20
12.00 – 12.40 GT4 European Cup Race 1 40’
13.25 – 14.45 FIA GT Championship Free Practice 2 80’
14.50 – 15.00 FIA GT3 European Championship Grid visit by VIP guests
15.15 – 16.15 FIA GT3 European Championship Race 1 60’
16.45 – 17.30 GT 90s Revival Race 1 45’
17.45 – 18.20 FIA GT Championship Qualifying Practice 15/5/15
18.45 – 19.15 Discover the track with Dodge Sunday, May 6
09.00 – 09.30 FIA GT Championship Warm Up 30’
09.55 – 10.35 GT4 European Cup Race 2 40’
10.30 FIA GT Championship Autograph session
Pit Walk (10.45 – 11.15) & VIP laps (10.45 – 11.15 )
11.20 – 11.45 FIA GT Championship Grid visit by VIP guests
12.00 – 14.00 FIA GT Championship Race 2h
14.20 – 14.30 FIA GT3 European Championship Grid visit by VIP guests
14.45 – 15.45 FIA GT3 European Championship Race 2 60’
16.15 – 17.00 GT 90’s Revival Race 2 45' | 
