The roller-coaster Autodromo Internacional Algarve circuit provided the perfect backdrop for a thrilling round of the FIA GT Championship, as 38,700 delighted spectators were able to watch a nail-biting finish to the sixth round of the 2009 FIA GT Championship. The nr 3 SRT Corvette of Longin/Ruffier and the nr 51 AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT2 of Cadei/Barba Lopez claimed first popular first wins. And if the points were close coming into Portugal, they are even closer as the teams and drivers leave the sunshine and head north. It looks as if we are heading for another exciting end to an FIA GT Championship season !
FIRST WIN FOR LONGIN AND RUFFIER
After James Ruffier’s first front row qualifying effort, the Frenchman went one better today, and with his experienced Belgian team-mate Bert Longin, the duo recovered from an early tyre problem, radio communication problems and a long pit-stop to cross the line over 30 seconds ahead of their nearest rivals, the nr 4 Pekaracing Corvette. The safety car, which came out after the nr 61 Porsche lost oil on the track, closed up the field, eliminating the advantage that the nr 4 car had gained at that stage. And despite a tremendous stint from Mike Hezemans, with 70 kg on board, he could not open up a sufficient gap around this challenging and beautiful circuit for Kumpen to come out ahead after the final obligatory pit stop.
SRT therefore made up for their disappointment in Spa by finally taking their first win of the year, allowing Bert and James to move up to third place in the provisional GT1 Drivers classification. “It has been an amazing weekend,” James, the reigning FIA GT3 European Champion, commented. “The car was really, really good, and I am very happy for the team and for my team-mate. The car had been consistent all season, but not competitive, but finally we got the speed, and to win with a 30-second lead is really a good achievement for the whole team.”
Second across the line, Pekaracing’s duo of Hezemans and Kumpen were in a strong position to win today, had the safety car not eliminated the margin the Dutch driver had built up. However, this second place finish has placed them on absolutely equal points with their rivals Bartels and Bertolini, who finished fifth today, struggling with 100 kg around this undulating circuit. With all four drivers on 45 points, and sharing the same number of wins, second, fourth and fifth places, it is very hard to separate them…
Third across the line was the nr 2 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC 12, putting their bad luck in recent races behind them to claim a podium finish in Miguel Ramos’ home race. “It was a nice race today, although we were unlucky with the safety car,” he said. “But it was good to race in front of my home crowd – there were a lot of people out there – the autograph session was really amazing. I was really pushing to finish on the podium and we managed that, so I am happy. I hope we manage to do even better for the next two races and try to fight for the third place in the Championship.”
The end of the race was spectacular, with three Maserati MC 12 cars chasing down the Sangari Team Brazil Corvette Z06, which had started from pole. Battling for the lead in the early stages, the car lost time after a drive-through penalty for causing an avoidable collision with the nr 40 Marc VDS Racing Ford GT. The Corvette, shared this weekend by Bernoldi, Streit and Maassen, was overtaken by the nr 2 car in the final stages, but kept fourth place ahead of the nr 33 and nr 1 Maserati cars, the three cars crossing the line within half a second of each other. This result keeps Maassen in contention for third in the GT1 drivers classification.
FIRST VICTORY FOR CADEI AND BARBA LOPEZ
AF Corse took its third win of the season today - but after two wins for reigning Champions Bruni and Vilander, it was the turn of the nr 51 Ferrari 430 GT2 of Niki Cadei and Alvaro Barba Lopez to take the chequered flag, giving both drivers their maiden FIA GT victories. “I can only just believe the result now ! After the safety car, I had to ask the team two or three times to confirm my position,” Cadei said. “I really wanted to win this race as I am close to my home in Spain,” Barba Lopez added. “I am very happy; it is fantastic.”
The Algarve circuit saw a complete changeover in the GT2 points. Coming into the round, AF Corse drivers Vilander and Bruni led the Drivers classification, while Prospeed had a narrow lead – on the number of victories – in the Teams points. Heading for the Paul Ricard, AF Corse has regained the Teams lead by five points. But Prospeed Competition drivers Richard Westbrook and Emmanuel Collard, in the nr 61 Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, took second today to build up a three-point lead over their nearest rivals – despite being involved in a collision with the eventual winners, for which the nr 51 received a drive-through. Richard Westbrook said : “It was a really good race for us. Our car had a really good race pace and we slowly climbed up the order and found ourselves in the lead. We didn’t really gain too much behind the safety car, but we didn’t lose much either. To come second, with our main title rivals in sixth is a real dream. The weight is going up again, but we’ll take the points!”
In GT2 like in GT1, the safety car played a role. In the first hour, the three drivers who had qualified in the top three had the advantage, with the nr 97 Brixia Porsche leading ahead of the nr 95 Pecom Racing Ferrari and the nr 61 Prospeed Porsche. But after the safety car period, it was the nr 77 BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari which was in the lead, ahead of the nr 60 Prospeed Porsche, the nr 56 CRS Racing Ferrari and the nr 51 AF Corse Ferrari. Over the next laps, the nr 77 and nr 60 made their final obligatory stops, the nr 56 had a stop-and-go due to a short driving time, leaving the nr 51 AF Corse Ferrari with the lead at the flag.
BMS Scuderia Italia claimed its second podium finish in a row for Matteo Malucelli and Paolo Ruberti. “I am happy because we got twelve points from the last two races, while we got only five from the first four races of the season. I think for us, something is changing, and although we were still unlucky as we could have been in front, but the car is quite competitive and I hope we can fight for a win – we’ll try again in the Paul Ricard.” Matteo Malucelli said
The nr 95 Pecom Racing Team Ferrari was fourth, giving Luis Perez Companc the Citation Cup win for the second race in a row. Kirkaldy and Bell were fifth for CRS Racing, with reigning Champions Bruni and Vilander sixth, allowing them to lose 20 kg for the next round at the Paul Ricard HTTT. Brixia’s Porsche finished seventh, with CRS Racing taking the final point with the nr 55 car for Mullen and Niarchos.
NEXT TIME
The next round of the 2009 FIA GT Championship will take place in France, at the Paul Ricard HTTT – a historic moment as it will mark the return of major international competition to the circuit after ten years of being closed to the public. With a French driver victorious today in GT1 – and another taking the Championship lead in GT2, conditions are perfect for their home race. Next stop, Paul Ricard, October 4th. See you then !
Source : SRO