FFSA GT Dijon - Race 1 Report
Dayraut/Lebon for Corvette In the qualifying session yesterday, Bruno Hernandez set the pole position at the wheel of the #9 SRT C6.R, ahead of a surprising Jean-Claude Police in the DKR Engineering C5-R and William Merafina (Larbre Saleen S7R). At the start of the race, poleman Bruno Hernandez was first into Turn 1 and was leading the field during the early stages. Behind him William Merafina (#8 Larbre Compétition Saleen S7R) passed Jean-Claude Police (#3 DKR Engineering Corvette C5-R) for second place. Hernandez kept the lead until the driver changes when Merafina, who stayed on track later than Hernandez, took over as provisional leader. Ayari replaced Hernandez and when Merafina pitted the SRT Corvette was back in the lead. Frédéric Makowiecki was now at the wheel of the Larbre Saleen but Jean-Philippe Dayraut (#2 DKR Engineering Corvette C6.R) was pushing hard and moved up quickly in the classification. At lap 39, he overtook Ayari and headed the field. Behind Dayraut and Ayari, Makowiecki was worried about his fuel numbers and slowed his pace. The second DKR Engineering Corvette (Police/Cazenave) was fourth, ahead of two Saleens, #4 Tarrès Team S7R (Debard/Thévenin) and #7 Larbre S7R (Bornhauser/Bouchut), who had a stop and go due to an infringement which occurred during their pit stop. In the GT2 category, the #37 Estoril Porsche 996 RSR (Monteiro brothers) was soon passed by the #35 Nourry Compétition Porsche 996 RSR (Mouez/Loger) and lost its engine soon after. Mouez/Loger took their fifth win in a row, ahead of Blugeon/Champeau (#34 Pro GT Porsche 997 RSR). Jean-Philippe Dayraut (DKR Engineering Corvette C6.R, 1st): "After the driver change, I was in sixth position but I could move up quite easily behind Cazenave who did not make my job any easier as I was quicker than him. Makowiecki did not resist too much and I was runner-up. Then, under some hard braking, I overtook Soheil Ayari. There was not much room to pass, but I did. I was a bit worried by our fuel consumption but we could manage it." In the GT3 category, François Jakubowski (#55 AS Events Ferrari 430GT3) had set the pole position ahead of Lamic (#71 Sport Garage Ferrari 430GT3) and Morel (#74 RTR Dodge Viper). The early stages were eventful. As early as the second lap, Bruno Dubreuil (#58 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) succeeded in taking the lead after a great start. After 20 minutes of running, Dubreuil was ahead of Morel, Peyroles (#42 Ruffier Racing Dodge Viper), Jakubowski, Dany Snobeck (#46 AS Events Ferrari 430GT3) and Lamic. After the driver changes, Christopher Campbell (#55 Ferrari) and Julien Briché (#58 Lamborghini) were fighting for the lead, while a good many cars suffered from penalties for a time infringement during the pit stop window: #71, #46 and #55 Ferraris! Fabien Rosier in the #74 Dodge Viper slowed his pace due to worn tyres but he wasn’t the only one to have a drama of the round, black kind. Briché had a comfortable lead but, close to the chequered flag, one of the Lamborghini’s tyres gave out and he had to retire. So, Johan-Boris Scheier (#70 Thierry Boutsen Energy Racing Ferrari F430), who was in second place following Campbell's stop and go, was now leading the field and claimed the win, ahead of Campbell/Jakubowski. Cabanne/Hélary (Ruffier Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) were third after a fantastic stint by Eric Hélary after his partner had qualified 14th on the grid. Johan-Boris Scheier: “I am very happy with this first win. Since last year, we have been very together and Pascal had a great race today. He gave me the opportunity to run in this French Championship which becomes more and more competitive. I enjoyed myself because I had to push hard and because the car was very efficient." Eric Hélary: "I am very close to the Ruffier family, so it is a great pleasure to give them this third place. It was my first race with the Lamborghini; I had not been racing since August 2007 in the USA." Results: 1 Dayraut J-Ph/ Lebon Y DKR ENGINEERING CORVETTE C6-R GT1 1h01:01.659 1:15.480 / 29
2 Hernandez B/ Ayari B SELLESLAGH RACING TEAM CORVETTE C6-R GT1 1h01:04.721 +3.062 1:16.168 / 22
3 Merafina W/ Makowiecki F LARBRE COMPETITION SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:05.318 +3.659 1:16.046 / 38
4 Cazenave L/ Police J-C DKR ENGINEERING CORVETTE C5-R GT1 1h01:37.994 +36.335 1:17.004 / 23
5 Thevenin O/ Debard E TARRES TEAM SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:43.023 +41.364 1:17.141 / 28
6 Bornhauser P / Bouchut C LARBRE COMPETITION SALEEN S7-R GT1 1h01:58.002 +56.343 1:16.989 / 29
7 Scheier J-B/ Ballay P THIERRY BOUTSEN ENERGY RACING FERRARI 430 GT3 1h02:21.693 +2 Tours 1:20.970 / 29
8 Jakubowski F/ Campbell C AS EVENTS FERRARI 430 GT3 1h01:07.357 +3 Tours 1:21.289 / 34
9 Cabanne G / Helary E RUFFIER RACING LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO GT3 1h01:07.637 +3 Tours 1:21.183 / 32
10 Lorgere Roux B/ Brandela R SPORT GARAGE FERRARI 430 GT3 1h01:41.491 +3 Tours 1:22.321 / 6 | 
