International GT Open, Imola - Reports
One Win Apiece For Ferrari And Porsche

With the second meeting of the International GT Open getting underway in Magny Cours, red faces are in abundance at DSC Towers after we realised that we had neglected to tell our readers what happened in the opening event at Imola at the start of the month. Here then, with much bowing and scraping, is a round-up of the first two races. Many apologies, and we promise to be more on the ball this time around.

Qualifying

The Ferrari F430s dominated Qualifying 1 for the International GT Open season-opener in Imola, with pole for Race 1, obtained on a still humid track, being taken by Michele Rugolo - a recent class winner in the 12 hours of Sebring - driving one of the AF Corse cars. He was ahead of two other F430s, driven by Giammaria (Edil Cris) and Rangoni (AF Corse). Fourth was the surprising Sunred SRX of Jordi Gené, while ex-F1 driver Ralph Firman, debuting in the series with Luxury Racing, was sixth and the fastest among the new Ferrari F458 GT2s.

In GTS, the Autorlando Porsche of Gianluca Roda took the pole ahead of the AF Corse F458 of Bizzarri and the Kessel F430 of Gattuso.

Two cars withdrew from the event: the #64 MTECH Ferrari F458 GT3, as Duncan Cameron could not drive because of a broken rib; and the #52 Kessel F430 of Fabio Garofano, which suffered serious damage in an accident during the morning.

During the second qualifying session, two other Kessel Ferraris suffered accidents and hit the wall: the F458 GT2 of Broniszewski and the F430 GT3 of Caccia. All three of the Kessel cars would take no further part in the weekend's events

Race 1

Marco Frezza and José Manuel López were the first winners of the International GT Open 2011. The Italian and the Argentine, at the wheel of the Vittoria Competizioni Ferrari F430, took a closely-fought win in tha Saturday race at Imola, on a very slippery and treacherous track.

Their duel with the AF Corse F430 of Luca Rangoni and Alessandro Garofano lasted throughout the race, with a spin for Garofano five laps from the end deciding the result. Third was the JMB Racing Ferrari of Soheil Ayari and Nicolas Misslin.

Porsche dominated the GTS race, with Gianluca Roda and -Fabio Babini taking the win (and fourth overall) in the Autorlando 911 R, ahead of the Raceteam Deboeuf car of Thomas Gruber/Marco Seefried, with Stefano Bizzarri/Andrea Rizzoli (AF Corse Ferrari F458) in third. After the race, though, second and third positions would be reversed, as the Deboeuf Porsche received a 30 second penalty for having checked the tyre pressure during the driver change.

The start took place behind the safety car on a wet track, with poleman Rugolo only managing to hold back Giammaria for half a lap, and with Rangoni, Ayari, Firman, Gené and Frezza battling for third. Avoiding mistakes on the slippery track proved difficult for everybody except Frezza, who took the lead on Lap 6. In GTS, Roda led from Bizzarri (who would take the lead on Lap 10), Gattuso, Gruber and Wiser.

Gruber opened the pit stop period (during which the Sunred retired with electrical problems), with the leaders Frezza and Giammaria in at Lap 18 and Ayari at Lap 20. After all the driver changes, Garofano led (despite an off-track excursion at the chicane) from Lopez - who was closing the gap - Ramos, Misslin, Babini (leading in GTS), Barde, Sdanewitsch, Barba, Rizzoli and Seefried.

In the final laps the gap between Garofano and Lopez grew again, before Garofano spun on lap 38; leaving the door open to the Argentine, who controlled the situation up to the chequered flag. Babini took the win in GTS and clinched fourth position overall, ahead of Seefried, Rizzoli and Rees; who was very fast in the final laps.

Race 2

Porsche took its revenge in the second race of the International GT Open in Imola, as Álvaro Barba and Andrea Ceccato, at the wheel of the Autorlando Sport Porsche 911 RSR, took a superb win ahead of the Ferraris. The Spaniard (and current reigning champion) and the young Italian - who, one week previously, were not even sure that they would be racing in the series - made a perfect race, with Barba building a substantial advantage in stint one and Ceccato delivering a faultless second part.

The pair beat Raffaele Giammaria/Miguel Ramos (EdilCris Ferrari F430) and Andrea Montermini/Emanuele Moncini (Villorba Ferrari F430), while the previous day's winners, Marco Frezza/Cochito López (Vittoria Ferrari F430) were fourth, but become the first championship leaders.

In GTS, it was a clear success for the Ferrari F430 of Lorenzo Bontempelli and Stefano Gattuso, which brought some comfort to Kessel Racing after the débâcle in qualifying. Second, as in the first race, were the young Italians Stefano Bizzarri and Andrea Rizzoli (AF Corse Ferrari F458), ahead of Saturday winners, Gianluca Roda/Fabio Babini (Autorlando Porsche 911 R), who were now tied in points at the top of the class standings.

In stark contrast to the conditions seen at the start of Race 1, it was sunny and warm at midday on Sunday for the start of the second encounter. Poleman Cochito López led the pack into the first corner, before having to capitulate to Barba’s attacks; who proceeded to fly away at a strong pace. They were followed by Garofano, Bontempelli, Ramos, Lancieri, Montermini and Rosell. After ten laps, Barba had an advantage of eight seconds over Bontempelii (who leads GTS), Lopez, Garofano, Montermini and Ramos; while Rizzoli and Babini were second and third in GTS.

After the driver changes, Ceccato had a 16s lead over Moncini and Gattuso, but the second part of the race would be animated by the charges of Giammaria and Frezza. The former would take second - finishing very near to Ceccato, who never lost control of things - while Frezza finished fourth behind the Villorba car of Moncini. Gattuso, despite some engine misfiring, kept the advantage in GTS ahead of Bizzari, Roda, Wiser (on the Villois Aston) and Rees.