FFSA GT, Magny Cours – Race One Report
Easy For Bornhauser & Groppi

Qualifying

Stéphane Lemeret set the pole position behind the wheel of the #37 WRT Audi R8 LMS with a laptime of 1:56.2. He shared the front row with another Audi R8 LMS, #26 Bruno Hernandez's ORECA Audi. Patrick Bornhauser (#7 Larbre Compétition Porsche 911 GT R) was third quickest, ahead of David Hallyday (#25 ORECA Audi R8 LMS) and Eric Debard (#1 DKR Engineering Ford GT).

Race

At the start, the sky was grey and it was rather cold.

On the first lap, Bornhauser's Larbre Porsche overtook both Audis and was in the lead, ahead of Lemeret, Hallyday, Paul Lamic (#14 GCR//Pouchelon Dodge Viper) who had made a fine start, Hernandez, Wilfried Merafina (#8 Saintéloc/Phoenix Racing Audi R8 LMS) and Jean-Claude Lagniez (#4 JSB Compétition Lamborghini).

In the early stages, Patrice Ullman (#43 ASP Compétition Lamborghini) had a spin and Eric Benezet (#66 Ruffier Racing Lamborghini) could not avoid the contact. Both Lambos being on the track, just before the race control, the safety car came out. Soon after, Gérard Tonelli (#9 Graff Racing Corvette Z06) had to pit due a broken throttle cable.

At the restart, Bornhauser set a strong pace but Lemeret stayed in the Porsche's exhaust, ahead of Lamic, Hallyday, Merafina and Hernandez, while Lagniez had to retire with gearbox problems.

In lap 11, it was a new full course yellow following two offs: Gaël Demoustier (#11 LMP Compétition Aston Martin DBRS9) and Thierry Stepec (#24 Ferrari 430 Scuderia). The first pitstops and driver changes took place under this safety car period.

The restart was given on lap 15. Renaud Derlot (#17 Graff Racing Corvette Z06) had taken over from Arnaud Peyroles and was quickly moving through the field, up to eighth place by lap 20.

Laurent Groppi (#7 Porsche) was in the lead, ahead of Frédéric Gabillon (#14 Dodge Viper), Christophe Bouchut (#8 Lamborghini), Soheil Ayari (#26 Audi), Stéphane Ortelli (#25 Audi), Maxime Martin (#18 VDS Ford Mustang), Olivier Panis (#1 Ford GT) and Derlot.

Derlot passed Panis very soon after, but as he had crossed the race line he was given a warning. Derlot was really pushing hard and he overtook successively Martin, Ortelli and Ayari.

Groppi had a seven seconds lead on Bouchut who passed Gabillon within five minutes of the chequered flag.

Derlot tried to overtake Gabillon. Both cars had a contact and Gabillon spun. So, Derlot finished third, behind Bornhauser/Groppi, easy winners, and Bouchut/Merafina.

Results – here    

Claude Foubert