The new Aston Martin Vantage SuperGT of Villois Racing took an awaited and well- deserved maiden win today in Brands Hatch. Álvaro Barba and Matteo Maluccelli conducted a perfect race, replicating the success of the Italian Aston here in 2010. The pair is now second in the overall standings, behind the Manthey Porsche of Holzer-Tandy, who had a disappointing day today, as did Pilet-Narac on the other top 911.
Federico Leo-Gimmi Bruni took second with the AF Corse Ferrari, ahead of the V8 Racing Corvette of Raffaele Giammaria-Miguel Ramos, which took its first podium in the series.
In GTS, Autorlando Sport completed a triumphant weekend, with Marco Mapelli- Archie Hamilton repeating yesterday’s win and Marcello Puglisi-Matteo Beretta taking third, just behind Zampieri-Dalle Stelle (Kessel Ferrari), again on the podium despite a 30″ handicap, and now new championship leaders in GTS, following Bizzarri’s retirement on the AF Corse Ferrari.
Today Brands enjoyed nice weather, which did not prevent a strange contact between Pilet and Lopez in the pit out lap. It meant retirement for the French Porsche and a broken rim for the Ferrari, while Cecchellero spins in the formation lap.
At the start, Mapelli leads ahead of Zampieri with Holzer taking third ahead of Rizzoli, Pastorelli and Lopez, soon passed by Barba, who in lap 4 overtakes also the Corvette. Holzer takes second from Zampieri in lap 5. The German closes up on Mapelli and so does Barba on Zampieri, third. Both GT2s will manage to pass in lap 9 while battle for 6th is fierce between Pastorelli, Lopez, Leo and Giammaria, who passes the Ferrari in lap 12.
In lap 13, Barba passes the Porsche on the outside at Clearways, soon before the driver change window opens. It’s a dramatic stop for the Manthey Porsche, as on top of the heavy handicap (25″), Tandy stops at the pits exit with some piece of rubber in fire, losing more time.
Once the changes are done, the Aston of Malucelli is a comfortable leader with 16″ over Bruni, 21″ over Ramos and 23″ over Montermini, who passed Sijthoff. Follow Hamilton, Talkanitsa, Peter and Dalle Stelle, while a wheel bearing breaks in the rear of the Ferrari of Bizzarri, which is blocked at Dingle Dell, prompting the safety-car out. The last few minutes after re-start will not change anything, with Ramos holding third from the attacks of Montermini.
Championship Standings after Race 8 of 16 Scratch: 1.Holzer-Tandy, 94; 2. Maluccelli-Barba, 90; 3. Pilet-Narac, 88 p.; 4. Bruni-Leo, 81; 5. Peter- Broniszewski, 72
GTS: 1. Dalle Stelle-Zampieri, 48; 2. Mapelli-Hamilton, 47; 3. Bizzarri, 42; 4. Rizzoli, 24; 5. Christodoulou-Hummel, 24
Teams SGT: 1. Manthey Racing, 42; 2. Villois Racing, 39; 3. IMSA Performance, 38 p. ; 3. AF Corse, 36; 5. Villorba Corse, 30
Team GTS: 1. Kessel Racing, 64; 2. Autorlando Sport, 56; 3. AF Corse, 49; 4. Lapidus Racing, 24; 5. Seyffarth Racing, 20
Manufacturers SGT: 1. Ferrari, 95; 2. Porsche, 77; 3. Aston Martin, 39; 4. Chevrolet, 18 Manufacturers GTS: 1. Ferrari, 98; 2. Porsche, 69; 3. McLaren, 24; 4. Mercedes, 20; 5. Lamborghini, 6.
Source : International GT Open