FFSA GT, Magny Cours – Race Reports
Bouchut/Bornhauser Claim The Championship The last event of the 2008 FFSA GT Championship saw a new car being entered by Hexis Racing; a Ferrari 550 Maranello, driven by Philippe Dumas, Hexis Racing Team Manager and none other than Peugeot driver Pedro Lamy. Race One In the qualifying session for the first race, Patrick Bornhauser (#7 Larbre Compétition Saleen S7R) had took pole in 1'28"143, ahead of Jean-Claude Police (#3 DKR Engineering Corvette C5-R) and Philippe Dumas's #12 Ferrari 550. As the race began, at dusk, Patrick Bornhauser was the best starter but he was soon threatened by Philippe Dumas who succeeded in passing the Saleen on lap three. Dumas kept the lead until the driver changes and Pedro Lamy took over from him. Christophe Bouchut, now at the wheel of the Larbre Saleen, was pushing hard and he was quickly in the exhaust of the #12 Ferrari; overtaking Lamy and quickly widening the gap to his pursuers. The Portuguese driver was not so fast on the track, the Ferrari being in trouble, and the DKR Engineering Corvettes were coming back quickly at him as darkness fell on the track. Lamy couldn't do anything and was passed by Dayraut (#2 C6.R) and Cazenave (#3 C-5R). Moreover, the Ferrari ran short of fuel during its last lap and Lamy finished eventually in eighth place. Bouchut was thus able to enjoy a trouble-free cruise to the finish line and was first under the chequered flag, ahead of Dayraut, who set the best laptime, and Cazenave. Soheil Ayari and Hernandez (#11 Luc Alphand Aventures C6.R) were in fourth place, just ahead of the #9 SRT C6.R driven by Merafina and Maxime Soulet. So, Patrick Bornhauser and Christophe Bouchut claimed the GT1 title ahead of race two. In the GT2 Trophy, Richard Balandras (#40 IMSA Performance Porsche 997 RSR) had set the pole and, partnered by Raymond Narac, took his seventh win in a row. In the championship standings, they were now very close to David Loger and Eric Mouez (#35 Nourry Compétition Porsche 996 RSR) who suffered some mechanical woes during the race. Lecourt/Dumez (#39 IMSA Performance Porsche 997 RSR) finished in second place, ahead the Monteiro brothers (#37 Estoril Porsche 996 RSR)  |
The GT3 pole position had been set by Thomas Mutsch, currently runner-up in the FIA GT3 standings and now behind the wheel of a newcomer in the series, the #82 Matech Racing Ford GT. Mutsch, who was partnered by Dino Lunardi, drove the first stint and had a thirty seconds lead when Lunardi took over from him. However, the Ford GT lost precious time during its pitstop with starter-motor problems.. When Lunardi could start again at last, he was a long way from the leaders and, in spite of a strong stint, he could do no better than fourth. Bruno Dubreuil and Julien Briché (#58 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) had been fighting hard with Arnaud Peyroles (Ruffier Racing Lamborghini Gallardo) and Dimitri Lazardeux (#83 Matech Racing Ford GT). He succeeded in passing both cars and took the win. Two young drivers, Lazardeux and Sébastien Chardonnel were runner-ups, ahead Of Parisy/Moureu (#57 AS Events Ferrari 430). In the GT3 championship standings, Leclerc/Tuchbant (Lamborghini Gallardo) retained their large lead, ahead of Moureu and Parisy. Race Two Soheil Ayari (#11 Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R) had set the pole position for the second race during the Saturday qualifying session for top-seeded drivers, ahead of Olivier Thévenin (#4 Tarrès Team Saleen S7R). Ayari and Hernandez led the race from start to finish, with Ayari first into Turn 1 at the start; while Maxime Soulet (#9 SRT Corvette C6.R) overtook Thévenin to claim second. Bouchut and Bornhauser, the 2008 GT1 champions, succeeded in containing Dumas/Lamy's #12 Hexis Racing Ferrari 550 and finished third, ahead of the Ferrari and the #8 Larbre Saleen driven by Makowiecki/Bervillé. The #4 Saleen had an off and could do no more than seventh, just behind the sister car of Porta/Cormorèche. The DKR Engineering Corvettes were less fortunate than on Saturday. Dayraut/Lebon (#2 C6.R) had brakes problems and the #3 C5-R Corvette had an off in the Estoril curve and had to retire. In the GT2 Trophy, Raymond Narac and Richard Balandras (#40 IMSA Performance Porsche) took the win and claimed the championship by just two points from Mouez and Loger's '#35 Nourry Compétition Porsche, which finished in fourth place. The Nourry crew had been working hard before the race to repair an oil leak. Dumez and Lecourt (#39 IMSA Performance Porsche) were runner-ups and the #37 Estoril Porsche driven by the Monteiro brothers finished in third place. Dino Lunardi had set the GT3 pole position with the #83 Matech Racing Ford GT and he kept the lead until the driver changes, widening the gap on the contenders. Thomas Mutsch took over from him and, though he had to pit ten seconds longer than his opponents (both Matech drivers being top-seeded drivers), Mutsch claimed the first win in the FFSA GT championship for a Ford GT, in spite of some electrical cuts during his stint. James Ruffier and Arnaud Peyroles (#42 Lamborghini Gallardo) were in second place under the chequered flag and are runner-ups in the championship standings, ahead of Parisy and Moureu (#57 AS Events Ferrari 430), fifth at Magny-Cours. The second Matech Ford GT (#82, driven by Lazardeux and Cherdonnel), second on Saturday was again on the podium in third place, ahead of Rosier and Morel (#74 RTR Dodge Viper). Antoine Leclerc and David Tuchbant (#54 First Racing Lamborghini Gallardo, in eighth place, claimed the GT3 championship. Claude Foubert Results: Race One
Race Two | 
