The International GT Open is off to a grand finale in Barcelona, as the fight for the title got even closer after today’s race 2 in Monza, which saw a clear victory of the IMSA Porsche of Raymond Narac-Patrick Pilet ahead of yesterday’s winners, Giammaria-Toccacelo (Edil Cris Ferrari). Tim Mullen-Adam Christodolou (CRS Ferrari) were third, while championship leaders Barba-Kaffer (AF Corse) took no points. All this has brought an exciting situation in the standings, which now see Barba-Kaffer leading by 12 points on Pilet-Narac, 15 on Giammaria-Toccacelo and 27 on Lietz-Roda.
In GTS, Marco Frezza-Niki Cadei and Stefano Livio-Lorenzo Bontempelli gave the Kessel Ferraris a double win, reducing the gap in the GTS standings with respect to Jean- Philippe Dayraut (Luxury), today fifth. The French has now 12 points on Livio- Bontempelli and 14 on Frezza.
At the start, Kaffer is fastest while there is great fight between Griffin, Ortelli, Pilet, Toccacelo and Broniszewski (who spins in lap 2) for second. Goodwin and Lavio have contact at the Parabolica and go off-track while Beaubelique is in the sand at Lesmo. Pilet keeps full pressure on Kaffer while Toccacelo is third ahead of Christodoulou, Ortelli and Bontempelli.
Pilet will achieve taking the lead in lap 7, while Toccacelo is a lonely third ahead of six red ferraris in full fight: Christodolou, Bontempelli, Garofano, Griffin, Ortelli and Cadei, followed by the Aston of Wiser.
The situation remains relatively stable until the pit stop, which sees Narac emerging as leader with a 10-second advantage over Mullen, who has Giammaria, then Frezza (first among the GTS cars), Lietz, Barba, Guerrero (but the Aston GT2 will be penalised with 20″ for not serving the entire handicap), Lancieri, Gruber and Livio, while the AF of Garofano-Rangoni stops with a broken clutch.
Soon Giammaria will take 2nd from Mullen and starts to reduce the gap on Narac, while Barba, who had climbed fourth, loses good points, as he goes off at the entrance of the Parabolica, after a mistake at the braking (lap 22). The race ends with Pilet, Toccacelo and Mullen in the top three ahead of Lietz, while the Kessels of Frezza and Livio make a one-two in GTS, with the Villois Aston of Lancieri-Busnelli third.
Source : International GT Open