The long winter break is over, and the International GT Open is ready to take the track for its seventh edition, with the first round being held at the Autódromo do Algarve in Portimão. This will be a key year for the International GT Open, as prospects are extremely positive, with a great entry (including many new names among teams, cars and drivers that are bringing fresh blood to the series), a top- class selection of venues in the calendar, and a TV coverage package (to be revealed soon) that represents a further step forward in terms of visibility. All this, combined with the traditional stability in rules and costs and the no less traditional good atmosphere, should contribute reconfirming the International GT Open as the best continental platform for pro-am GT2 and GT3 racing.
The season-opener in the Algarve will see around 40 cars on track, as the event will see the International GT Open and the Spanish GT Championship / IBER GT racing jointly, as usual once or twice every season. The two series will share the track except for Sunday’s race, which will see split Race 2 for each series. The final entry list will be published on Monday and number of GT Open entrants should be around 25 in this first event of the year, with some key contenders expected to join as from Round 2 at the Nürburgring in May.
The 2012 championship is expected to be one of the most competitive and closely- fought so far, as the Ferraris 458, which were dominant last year, will have to face a strengthened opposition from Porsche, ensuring a re-edition of the traditional duel between the two makes. This is certainly true in the Super GT category (with GT2 cars) but also in the GT3-based GTS category. In Super GT, the colors of Maranello will be defended by some well-known teams, who will be using the 2012-spec 458. AF Corse is entering a top level pair with former FIA GT2 champion Toni Vilander and reigning FIA GT3 champion Federico Leo. Kessel Racing is doubling its presence in the category: alongside its regular Philipp Peter-Michal Broniszewski pair, the Swiss team is entering another stalwart duo, Miguel Ramos-Raffaele Giammaria.
Also among title bidders will be the Villorba Corse car, the 2011 runner-up, where former F.1 driver has been joined by Argentina’s Cochito López, who made a stunning debut in the series in 2011. The Ferrari camp also includes the AT Racing 458 of the Talkanitsas father and son, and two cars (a 458 and a 430) from Dutch team Veka, where the Versluis brothers have been joined by top team mates such as Yelmer Buurman and Nicky Pastorelli, respectively. Porsche, as said, has stepped up its presence significantly, thank you to the new version of its 911 RSR. Three units of the new machine will be campaigning the full season. Stalwart German GT team Manthey Racing is participating to the entire season for the first time with a pair of fast young fast guns like Marco Holzer and Nick Tandy, while French team IMSA Performance is back with its usual pair Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet and the Drivex squad is entrusting its 2012 RSR to its regular duo Luis Amaral-Miguel Ángel De Castro, the Spanish team entering also a 2011-spec RSR for another familiar duo in the series, Ferdinando Geri-Giacomo Piccini.
Porsche and Ferrari however won’t be alone in the top class. Aston Martin will be well represented, always thanks to Villois Racing. The Italian team will soon have a new version of the Vantage GT2 and will start the season in Portugal with the car used in 2010, entrusted to a top pair to be revealed early next week. Last but not least, the GT Open is welcoming a prestigious new entry: Lotus. The historic British maker is bringing its new Evora GTE, prepared by the team of Gianni Giudici and entrusted to Johnny Mowlem-Marcello Puglisi.
In the GTS category too, Ferrari and Porsche will battle and won’t be alone. The “Reds” can count on a 4-car strong delegation by Kessel Racing (with a mix of young drivers, such as Daniel Zampieri, and expert ones, like Iradj Alexander) and a 3-car representation by AF Corse (where young pair Stefano Bizzarri-Andrea Rizzoli logically reconfirmed after its excellent 2011 season, and Michele Rugolo-Claudio Sdanewitsch also to be noted), while Ombra Racing is debuting in the GT Open.
Stuttgart’s chances are in the hands of Autorlando Sport, who is this year focusing on the sole GTS category, with Archie Hamilton-Marco Mapelli bringing young blood to the driver line-up and another top pair to be disclosed on Monday. The other key leading Porsche team, the Deboeuf Racing (with Ricard’s Winter Series winners Thomas Gruber-Marco Seefried) is to debut in round 2. While other cars (Ford, Mercedes, McLaren, Maserati) are to join soon, the opposition at the Algarve will be led by the Reiter-prepared Lamborghini Gallardo of Per Kox-Nico Pronk.
Sharing the event programme will be the European F3 Open, the other international series by GT Sport (this will happen at every round this season) and the FIA Formula Two.
With regard to TV coverage, there are significant good news for the 2012 season, with a number of additional countries added and upgraded deals concerning key countries, such as Italy and Germany, being signed at the moment.
Source : International GT Open