Porsche trusted the podium in today’s second race in the Algarve: Nick Tandy and Marco Holzer gave Manthey’s Racing a second authoritative win, while IMSA’s RSR with Raymond Narac and Patrick Pilet seemed to overcome yesterday’s set-up trouble to take a brilliant second place. Again, the changing weather conditions played a key role: slick tires on a damp track was the ideal scenario for Olaf Manthey’s car, while most of the top Ferraris lived a difficult day because of unlucky tire strategy.
Third on the podium were the winners in the GTS class, Archie Hamilton and Marco Mapelli on the Autorlando Sport GT3 car. The AF Ferrari of Bizzarri-Cadei and the Goodsense Lambo of Kox-Pronk took the other class laurels.
At the start, Kox takes the lead from poleman Malucelli, with also the other Lambo of Pereira passing the Aston. Follow Tandy, Mapelli, Pilet, Cadei, Talkanitsa, Rugolo and Leo, while Broniszewski goes to the pits after formation lap to put slick tires.
In lap 3, the rain is back and some cars (including Rugolo, Talkanitsa, Ramos and Leo) stop to put on rain tires. After 5 laps, Kox has 2 seconds advantage over Mapelli and Tandy but in lap 6 the both Porsches pass the Lambo, which seems to have slowed down abruptly. Follow Pereira, Cadei, Pilet, Malucelli, Giao and Montermini, The rain seems to increase but only in some sections of the track. On the slippery track there are some incidents, as Lpa goes off track and Ramos is sent into a spin by another competitor, while Pilet passes Cadei for fourth.
After the pit stops and driver changes, it’s Pronk leading, but the Dutchman will be passed by Holzer and Narac, who run separated by less than 10 seconds. Fourth is Hamilton, leading the GTS category, ahead of Bizzarri, Barba, Teixeira and Lopez (who gets a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane, similarly to Puglisi). With Pronk losing some more ground but salvaging 3rd position in GTS, the race ends with three Porsche on the podium.
GT Open Standings after Race 2 of 18
Overall: 1.Holzer-Tandy, 44 points; 2. Cadei-Bizzarri, 32; 3. Pilet-Narac, 30; 4. Hamilton-Mapelli, 29; 5. Malucelli-Barba, 18 GTS: 1. Mapelli-Hamilton, Cadei-Bizzarri, 18; 3. Zampieri-Dalle Stelle, 10; 4. Kox-Pronk, Cecchellero- Mantovani, 6
Teams Overall: 1. Manthey Racing, 20; 2. IMSA, 14; 3. Villois Racing, 9; 4. Kessel Racing, 8; 5. Black Team, Villorba Corse, 4 Teams GTS: 1. Autorlando Sport, AF Corse, 18; 3. Kessel Racing, 16; 4. Goodsense Racing, 6; 5. Ombra Racing, 4.
Source : International GT Open