Soheil Ayari and Joël Camathias won a lively Race 2 today in Portimão, at the wheel of the JMB Racing Ferrari 458, which allows the French driver to retake the lead of the championship, with 6 points of advantage over Miguel Ramos (EdilCris), today 4th. Second was the Villorba Ferrari of Andrea Montermini-Emanuele Moncini, the third team in contention for the title, and third Marco Frezza-Cochito López (Vittoria Ferrari F430), who broke the black period suffered recently.
The battle is full open also in GTS, where today victory was for the Ferrari AF of Stefano Bizzarri-Andrea Rizzoli, who preceded the series leaders Bontempelli- Babini (Kessel Racing) and the RPM Ford of Alex Mortimer-Peter Bamford, who took a well-deserved first podium this year, while the Porsche of Roda-Babini came in fourth, keeping its runner-up position in the standings.
Poleman Camathias keep the advantage ahead of Babini, who made an excellent start, Frezza, Rugolo, Moncini, Mortimer and Gattuso, while today is Ceccato missing the first braking and almost crossing the field at the hairpin.
The focus in the first laps is on the battle for third between Frezza and Moncini, who passes in lap 7, while Gattuso is fifth ahead of Rugolo, Talaknitsa, Mortimer, Broniszewski and Ramos, who are also dueling.
Once the driver changes and handicaps concluded, it’s Ayari leading by the minimal margin over Lopez (who actually exited from the pits a few meters ahead the Frenchman) with Talkanitsa in third ahead of Montermini, Barba, Bamford (leading in GTS), Bizzarri, Giammaria and Sdanewitsch.
While Talakanitsa and Barba have to stop to change tires, Montermini takes third (and later second, when he passes Lopez), while also Giammaria and Peter climb positions, up to 4th and 5th, with Bizzarri sixth and on top of GTS, ahead of Gattuso and Mortimer.
Standings after Algarve
Overall: 1. Ayari, 147; 2. Ramos, 141; 3. Montermini-Moncini, 136; 4. Bontempelli- Gattuso, 129; 5. López-Frezza, 122
GTS: 1. Gattuso-Bontempelli, 84 p.; 2. Babini-Roda, 77; 3. Bizzarri, 62; 4. Rizzoli, 58; 5. Lancieri, 33
Team Super GT: 1. JMB Racing, 66 p.; 2. Edil Cris RT, 64; 3. Villorba Corse, 61; 4. Vittoria Competizioni, 56; 5. Autorlando Sport, 38
Team GTS: 1. Kessel Racing, 97 p.; 2. Autorlando Sport, 77; 3. AF Corse, 75; 4. Raceteam Deboeuf, 35; 5. Villois Racing, 33
Source : International GT Open