Portuguese drivers, after clinching a win with Miguel Ramos in yesterday ́s race teaming with Italia ́s Raffaele Giammaria, continued their successful start of 2012 season. Patrick Cunha and José Ramos, who took part in the championship during last season, completed an almost perfect race at Autódromo do Algarve, a track once again very difficult by reason of weather.
Cunha, who set the fastest lap in qualifying, had an amazing start of race battling for overall podium with International GT Open drivers and they had no rivals over the course of the race, mainly after a wrong strategy coming from Ramos / Giammaria. Cunha finished his stint as leader and Ramos ́s work wasn ́t worse and he finished first and last but not at least, they leave Portimao as leaders of overall standings.
Manuel Giao and Carlos Vieira were second at home too. Both Team Nova Driver ́s had a very good weekend despite making their debut at the wheel of Audi R8 LMS ultra lined up by Rui Sobreiros ́ team. Giao started the race and Vieira took the seat later in the race to finish second in the Spanish GT / IBER GT classification and 10th overall.
Third place was closely-fought and Álvaro Fontes and Jesús Díez Villarroel, driving a RCA Racing ́s Ferrari 430 GT2, were looking for it when they were hit by another rival. Then, with Fontes and Villarroel retiring, Miguel Ángel de Castro / Miguel Amaral were third with Drivex Porsche classified at the end. Giacomo Piccini and Ferdinando Geri finished in 4th with another car from Madrid-based team.
Hugo Godinho and Joao Ramos made a good race for Ray Racing Team and their Ferrari 430 GT2 was 5th, ahead of another countryman fellow: Antonio Nogueira and his Porsche 997 GT3R. ASM Team ́s McLaren MP4-12C GT3 – Luis Silva / Antonio Coimbra- and second Team Nova Driver ́s Audi R8 LMS – César Campaniço / Mikko Eskelinen- were other cars finishing today ́s race.
In GTS, Rafael Unzurrunzaga won with his Mosler MT900. Francesc Gutiérrez and Luis Villalba were the winners in GT Light, twice at weekend, with PCR Sport ́s Ginetta G50 but with Salvador Tineo and Borja Signes closing the gap with their Porteiro Motorsport ́s BMW M3.
Source : Spanish GT