FFSA GT, Dijon – Race 2 Report

Qualifying
As the clouds were threatening and as the track was wet in places, most of the top seeded drivers started the session early to set a significant time.

Zangarelli (#16 PSI C5-R) was quickest in the early stages, ahead of Dupuy (#7 Protek Saleen, Thévenin (#4 Tarrès Saleen), Bouchut (#17 PSI C3.R) and Groppi (#9 Oreca Saleen). Policand (#8 Luc Alphand C5-R) improved and was top of the charts with a lap time of 1’’16’’188. Zangarelli improved too and was now fastest but Laurent Groppi set a 1’14’’439, ahead of Thévenin, Bouchut and Zangarelli. Thévenin was flying and improved on Groppi’s lap time with 1’14’’405. Groppi reacted: 1’14’’166. He claimed the pole, ahead of Thévenin, Ayari and Bouchut. Makowiecki was fifth quickest while Policand was sixth.

GT2 Trophy: Richard Balandras (IMSA MATMUT Porsche 997 RSR) was quickest ahead Loger (Nourry Prsche 996) and Michel Monteiro (Estoril Porsche 996). In the GT3 category, Ulrich Amado (First Racing Lamborghini) was the pole man, ahead of Campbell (Sport Garage Ferrari 430), Vannelet (Sport Garage Ferrari 430), Scheier (Thierry Boutsen Racing Ferrari 430) and Giroix (First Racing Lamborghini). Amado took his third pole position in a row.

Race 2
At the start, Groppi (#1 Oreca Saleen) was first into Turn 1 ahead of Thévenin (#4 Tarrès Saleen), Bouchut (#17 PSI C6.R) and Ayari (#9 Oreca Saleen) – so Saleens 1-2-4.

Makowiecki (#3 Larbre Aston Martin) moved up to fifth place. During the first part of the race, there were only a few moves for position. Groppi was still leading the field ahead of Thévenin, Bouchut, Ayari...

.... Zangarelli (#16 PSI C5-R), Makowiecki, Policand (#8 Alphand C5-R), Beltoise (#10 Viper), Dupuy (#7 Protek Saleen), Cayrolle (#5 SRT C5-R) and Zacchia (#2 Larbre Ferrari 550).

All the cars were very close. Makowiecki was trying hard to pass Zangarelli. As the Corvette had more speed on the straight he didn't succeed in overtaking it until twenty minutes or so had elapsed.

Eric Cayrolle was first to pit for the driver change (Cazenave in), because of a puncture on the SRT Corvette. The other drivers waited for the time limit to pit. After all the driver changes, Hernandez (#9 Saleen) was in first place, ahead of Debard (#4 Saleen), Lebon (#17 Corvette), Narac (#9 Saleen), Bornhauser (#3 Aston Martin) and Police (#16 Corvette).

Hernandez then had a drive through (excessive speed on the pitlane), so Debard in another Saleen was leading but he had a spin very soon afterwards - leaving Lebon and Narac fighting for the lead. Narac was pushing hard and Lebon had a puncture and made a slight mistake, so the #9 Oreca Saleen was the new leader. Hernandez tried to move up. He overtook Bornhauser then Debard and came very close to Narac.

The two Oreca Saleens were neck and neck, but Hernandez couldn't do anything against Narac who even succeeded in widening a small gap in the late stages. Bornhauser and Debard were fighting for third place (below).

Bornhauser passed the Saleen which threatened him until the chequered flag.

Zangarelli and Police finished in fifth place. Hernadez and Groppi (right) seemed happy enough though. David Legangneux explains that ths photograph was taken after qualifying: Hernandez was not happy about the drive through penalty in the race.

Soheil AYARI (Saleen S7-R, Team Oreca), 1st: “I made a good start. I thought of passing Bouchut on the outside, but I wasn't sure to succeed, so I gave up (that idea). I stayed behind him, we were all on the same pace. I thought we could manage a podium. At the front, they tripped themselves up. In spite of the 120 kgs of ballast, the car was good. We are in trouble above all when accelerating, so I believe that it will be very hard at Val de Vienne."

Raymond NARAC (Saleen S7-R, Team Oreca), 1st (above): “We have been lucky. The driver change was good. I came back quickly on Lebon who had some difficulties, then I saw Debard spinning off the track. I believed I was runner-up but I had been told, surprisingly, that I was leading the race. Our tyres were worn, so I managed my race, too much maybe, because Hernandez came close. We have been working during the winter for the title, we score some big points; everything was working well this weekend, the team has been perfect as usual."

In the GT2 Trophy, Michel Lecourt and Richard Balandras (IMSA Performance MATMUT Porsche 997 RSR) took their sixth win in a row. Their package outclassed their rivals. Loger / Mouez (Nourry Compétition Porsche 996) were in second place, ahead of the Estoril Porsche 996 driven by the Monteiros.

In the GT3 Championship, Gilles Vannelet and Michael Petit (Sport Garage Ferrari 430 GT3) led the race from start to finish and took their first win together. Vannelet was the best starter and Petit took over from him at half-race. He lost some time in the traflfic and Navarro (First Racing Lamborghini) closed up on him but was troubled by some backmarkers. Giroix and Navarro, in second place, keep their leadership in the championship standings, while Peyroles and Moureu (Dodge Viper GT3) finish in third place.
Claude Foubert, with usual thanks to Fred Espinos, and David Legangneux

Result
1 NARAC R / AYARI S ORECA SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:13.093 1:17.052 / 2
2 HERNANDEZ B / GROPPI L ORECA SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:16.265 3.172 1:16.226 / 2
3 BORNHAUSER P / MAKOWIECKI F LARBRE COMPETITION ASTON MARTIN DBR 9 GT1 1h01:24.101 11.008 1:17.349 / 2
4 DEBARD E / THEVENIN O TARRES TEAM SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:24.357 11.264 1:16.643 / 3
5 POLICE J C / ZANGARELLI M PSI EXPERIENCE CORVETTE C5-R GT1 1h01:41.949 28.856 1:17.379 / 3
6 BALTHAZARD G / POLICAND J LUC ALPHAND AVENTURES CORVETTE C5-R GT1 1h01:57.124 44.031 1:17.384 / 2
7 LESOUDIER G / BELTOISE A MIRABEAU MTO CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 1h02:08.937 55.844 1:17.660 / 3
8 DUPUY D / THEVENOT J M PROTEK SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:15.771 1 Trs 1:17.806 / 3
9 LEBON Y / BOUCHUT C PSI EXPERIENCE CORVETTE C6-R GT1 1h01:16.004 1 Trs 1:16.763 / 3
10 CAZENAVE L / CAYROLLE E SRT CORVETTE C5-R GT1 1h01:39.024 1 Trs 1:18.015 / 5
11 CORMORECHE D / PORTA O TARRES TEAM CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 1h01:24.036 2 Trs 1:19.489 / 2
12 ADAM J Y / ZACCHIA S LARBRE COMPETITION FERRARI 550 Maranello GT1 1h01:29.309 2 Trs 1:18.072 / 3
13 PETIT M / VANNELET G SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 GT3 1h01:29.963 2 Trs 1:21.619 / 3 14 LECOURT M / BALANDRAS R IMSA PERFORMANCE MATMUT PORSCHE 997 RSR GT2 1h01:50.471 2 Trs 1:21.277 / 3
15 NAVARRO N / GIROIX F FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h01:51.895 2 Trs 1:21.901 / 2
16 PEYROLES A / MOUREU D PILOTAGE PASSION DODGE VIPER GT3 1h02:10.371 2 Trs 1:22.530 / 6
17 SNOBECK D / CAMPBELL C SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 GT3 1h02:10.771 2 Trs 1:21.979 / 2
18 DUBREUIL B / AMADO U FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h02:21.491 2 Trs 1:21.743 / 2
19 YVON R / BRIERE B HEXIS RACING ASTON MARTIN DBRS 9 GT3 1h02:39.601 2 Trs 1:22.937 / 4
20 BALLAY P / SCHEIER J B THIERRY BOUTSEN RACING FERRARI 430 GT3 GT3 1h01:40.364 3 Trs 1:21.792 / 2
21 CABANNES G / SOURD M RUFFIER RACING DODGE VIPER GT3 1h01:44.809 3 Trs 1:23.788 / 5
22 CLAIRAY G / LAURIN J G C R DODGE VIPER GT3 1h01:54.011 3 Trs 1:23.653 / 8
23 MAILLET AVENEL N / PRIGNAUD G RED RACING CHRYSLER VIPER GTS-R GT1 1h02:22.583 3 Trs 1:23.055 / 7
24 BRIGAND E / VICAIRE J G C R DODGE VIPER GT3 1h02:24.349 3 Trs 1:24.211 / 6
25 LECLERC A / TUCHBANT D FIRST RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h01:28.700 4 Trs 1:22.724 / 7
26 MOUEZ E / LOGER D NOURRY COMPETITION PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 1h01:36.978 4 Trs 1:22.790 / 5
27 LELIEVRE F / POLETTE P IMSA PORSCHE ROUEN PORSCHE 996 CUP GT3 1h01:47.671 4 Trs 1:25.688 / 2
28 MONTEIRO M / MONTEIRO C ESTORIL RACING PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 1h01:59.438 4 Trs 1:22.221 / 2
29 PERROUD F / GERARDUZZI D TEAM MONGEARD PORSCHE 996 CUP GT3 1h02:04.892 4 Trs 1:26.589 / 5
30 BACHELIER J M / MALLEGOL Y FERRARI DEALER TEAM GB FERRARI 430 CHALLENGE GT3 1h01:44.117 5 Trs 1:27.684 / 32
31 OUDIN J P / RUFFIER J C RUFFIER RACING DODGE VIPER GT3 1h02:16.436 5 Trs 1:24.367 / 5
32 BRANDELA R / STEPEC T RED RACING PORSCHE 996 RSR GT2 1h01:18.885 6 Trs 1:24.537 / 2
33 BEROUJON C / MERAFINA W SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 GT3 54:12.646 8 Trs 1:22.738 / 5
34 BAUDOIN M / LAFARGUE P RUFFIER RACING PORSCHE 996 RS GT2 50:31.046 14 Trs 1:29.985 / 30
35 RODRIGUES M / RODRIGUES J HEXIS RACING ASTON MARTIN DBRS 9 GT3 17:10.616 33 Trs 1:23.708 / 8