advertise with us l'endurance has an international, dedicated audience who appreciate what we do. If you help us out, they'll appreciate you too. [email protected] advertise with us l'endurance has an international, dedicated audience who appreciate what we do. If you help us out, they'll appreciate you too. [email protected] contents 38 Photo: Dan Bathie

Events Events Events ILMC spa: GT3 Europe: British GT: 1000km Portugal Snetterton Page 38 Page 72 Page 90 The classic Ardennes venue The world’s most entertain- Controversy and drama played host to nearly 60 cars ing GT racing series began abounded as the British GT and served up a thriller. its year at the Algarve. Championship went East. contents

l’endurance is: Jake Yorath (editor) Twitter: Alex Roache (deputy editor) @lendurancelive Dan Bathie (sub editor) Sam Tickell (reports editor) Facebook: Brecht Decancq (photographer) facebook.com/lendurance

Events Gt1 world : 48 Rounds 3 & 4 Page 48 There were first time win- ners in both Portugal and Germany.

Events World round up

Page 36 Photo: Alex Roache All the latest reports from around the world of sport- scar racing. June This month, l’endurance photographers will be at the Le Mans 24 Hours, GT1 and GT3 Silverstone and British GT . [email protected] events Les vingt quatre heures du mans , June 11-12

What is there to say about Le Mans that hasn’t been said? This race is simply unmiss- able, and if you’re not going then you should still be stay- ing up for the entire race and listening to John Hindhaugh and the team get stead- ily more delirious on Radio Le Mans. Look out for our special team by team guide before the race.

UK Coverage: Eurosport, ra- dio at RadioLeMans.com Photo: Brecht Decancq GT3 Europe British GT Great Britain brands Hatch hot Silverstone, June 3-5 June 18-19 pick The FIA GT3 European The Avon Tyres British GT Championship roars into Sil- Championship goes south to verstone for its one and only visit the full Brands circuit UK visit in 2011, and you’d for a two hour endurance be a heathen to miss an op- race. Expect even more portunity to catch them. thrills. events Must see

GT1 World Great Britain Round 5 Silverstone, June 3-5

GT1 World is back for the traditonal Tourist Trophy meeting at Silverstone, and it should be the first ever in ‘the wing’.

UK Coverage: Live on GT1world.com/tv

Photo: Alex Roache In FIA GT3 European Championship, Algarve Alex Roache used a Canon 40D and 10-22 F3.5-5.6 focus Canon. Shutter speed 1/10th at F22.

In British GT Championship, Snetterton Jake Yorath used a Nikon D200 and 10-20 F4-5.6 focus Sigma. Shutter speed 1/6th at F22.

In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Brecht Decancq used a Nikon D300S and 300 F2.8 focus Nikkor. Shutter speed 1/5000th at F2.8. l'endurance is going to Le Mans, and we’re going with the best. speedchills.com l'endurance is going to Le Mans, and we’re going with the best. speedchills.com In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Marcel Thomassen used a Canon 40D and 70-200 focus F2.8 IS Canon. Shutter speed 1/25th at F22.

In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Dan Bathie used a Nikon D50 and 70-210 F4-5.6 focus Nikkor. Shutter speed 1/40th at F14.

In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Jake Yorath used a Nikon D200 and 10-20 F4-5.6 focus Sigma. Shutter speed 1/1600th at F4.

In FIA GT1 World Championship, Algarve Alex Roache used a Canon 40D and 10-22 F3.5-5.6 focus Canon. Shutter speed 1/10th at F22.

In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Marcel Thomassen used a Canon 40D and 17-85 F4- focus 5.6 IS Canon. Shutter speed 1/60th at F11.

In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Jake Yorath used a Nikon D300S and 80-200 F2.8 focus Nikkor. Shutter speed 1/1000th at F2.8.

Hire a photographer l'endurance photographers are some of the best in the world. If you are a racer, a sponsor or a team and you need our help, email us today. We’ve got photographers covering the Le Mans 24 Hours, British GT Championship and selected rounds of GT1, GT3 and Blancpain Endurance. [email protected] Hire a photographer l'endurance photographers are some of the best in the world. If you are a racer, a sponsor or a team and you need our help, email us today. We’ve got photographers covering the Le Mans 24 Hours, British GT Championship and selected rounds of GT1, GT3 and Blancpain Endurance. [email protected] In British GT Championship, Snetterton Jake Yorath used a Nikon D200 and 300 F4 Nikkor. focus Shutter speed 1/6th at F29.

In ILMC Spa 1000km, Spa Francorchamps Brecht Decancq used a Nikon D300S and 300 F2.8 focus Nikkor. Shutter speed 1/1250th at F2.8.

In Donington Historic Festival Dan Bathie used a Nikon D300S and 80-200 F2.8 focus Nikkor. Shutter speed 1/2000th at F2.8.

round up Photo: Jake Yorath Photo: Jake round up

ILMC GT3 Europe World spa 1000km Algarve Round up Page 68 Page 40 Page 78 took a shock suc- and BMW split the All the reports from around cess at the Spa 1000km, spoils as GT3 kicked off in the world this month includ- comfortably defeating an the Portuguese sunshine in a ing British GT, GT1 World, out-of-sorts Audi squad. flurry of great racing. and regional championships.

Practice confirmed most pre- most confirmed Practice ton’s new LMP1 car; this unfor- this car; LMP1 new ton’s case the be to not was tunately when Aston pulled out a few weeks before the event due to insufficient testing - the car clearly not ready. dictions and seemed a game for Audi, who dominated all Dan Bathie strong showing at the Le Mans test day. Spa however was to be the first time Audi’s latest R18 had faced Peugeot’s new 908 in race conditions, a com- pletely different ball The game. event third a be could also poster there that indicated challenger in the form of - As Spa 1000kmSpa ome things in life are surprising; Peugeot’s victory at Spa was one of these surprises.

Going into the second round S of both the Le Mans Series and the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, Audi were vourites, definiteespecially after their fa- Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Round 2, May 5-7 By 2, Round Belgium, Spa Francorchamps, LMS+ILMC Lions roar in the Ardennes Photo: Dan Bathie LMS+ILMC Spa 1000km Lions roar in the Ardennes Spa Francorchamps, Belgium, Round 2, May 5-7 By Dan Bathie

three and succeeded in having would have liked to have seen. bringing out the red flag and a each car heading a timesheet, The went out late in premature end to session, the number descending order, nat- the session leaving only a few Peugeots were down in thir- urally. laps to post a time, so when teenth, eighteenth and fiftieth Qualifying looked like it Matthieu Lahaye buried his Oak for the number eight car which would run to form and see Audi Pescarolo deep in the arnco (af- didn’t even get a timed lap in. sitting at the top of the charts ter what looked to be contact A seemingly uphill battle made again. It did, but in more dra- with the Genoa FLM car judg- even harder now. Lahaye’s ac- matic fashion than anyone ing from the onboard footage) cident wasn’t the first big one IMSA Performance intheGTE took victory AM Class withNicolas Armindo andRaymond Narac Photos:Jake Yorath and Dan Bathie 458 Brings CORSE FOR CELEBRATION GTE The 458 was the car their stints. Their team mates Melo and Alzen to Priaulx, the to have around the Belgian carried on this fight, James BMW jumping the Ferrari in circuit; it was just a question Walker handing the JMW car the pits. Melo gained quickly of which one would win it. In back to Bell in the lead af- on Priaulx though and took the end it was the AF Corse ter a tremendous drive. Bell the place, in doing so ignor- liveried version of Gianmaria then made a rare error at Les ing the yellow flags and earn- Bruni and Giancarlo Fisichel- Combes and bounced his Fer- ing himself a stop/go penalty la which took victory in the rari off the tyre wall although and with it what looked like GTE class after six hours of he carried on seemingly hav- a victory. This left three cars close racing. ing got away with it. However to contend for the win, Fi- Right from the start it was a few laps later and the JMW sichella leading the Hankook another race to forget for Ferrari started resembling a shod Farnbacher Ferrari and and , sprinkler, the brush with the just behind him the Priaulx contact with Fisichella on wall damaging the radiator / Alzen BMW. This is how it the first lap put the Felber- and putting the car well out of would stay until the finish, Fi- mayr multiple laps contention. The BMW of Uwe sichella taking his first victory down. The opening part of Alzen was now up to second in sportcars, 11 seconds clear the race saw an enthralling behind Vilander, BMW hoping of Farnbacher with the BMW battle between that good strategy rather than just 1.4 behind him. and Rob Bell for the lead, the raw pace would beat the Fer- two nose to tail for much of raris. Vilander handed over to Pescarolo could not repeat their Paul Ricard victory at Spa but took the honours of best petrol in LMP1 Photo: Jake Yorath Photo: Jake of the weekend. In practice unravel. Allan McNish starting Wurz in the seven car was soon the number thirteen Rebellion the number three Audi, spun on the tail of suffered a mechanical failure under braking as the pack en- and made his way past the pitching the car into the wall at tered Les Combes for the first German in traffic, it was clear Eau Rouge, but the biggest ac- time, the Scot choosing a spin that Audi wasn’t going to have cident happened during second rather than taking out his team as an easy ride as first thought. practice. ’s Peuge- mate, a wise move as Alexan- Wurz then closed up on leader ot collided with Mike Newton’s dre Prémat would tell you. At Lotterer and took the lead as RML HPD at the Fange chicane, the end of lap one Lotterer they made their way through leaving both cars with consid- led from Bernhard with McNish a pack of traffic. Behind the erable damage. Unfortunately down in sixteenth. Meanwhile factory diesels Sebring win- for RML this was to be the end the Peugeots were making ners were not enjoying of the weekend for them, their quick progress and fears of ac- the same success they enjoyed HPD chassis destroyed. cidents due to a rapid Peugeot while in Florida, Duval bringing Race day was met with blue making its way through the the grandfathered 908 in with skies and sunshine, a rarity at field did not come to fruition. engine trouble. They would Spa. This was to be a day of sur- Before the half hour mark all eventually finish tenth, nine prises in the Ardennes. As the three Peugeots were ahead of laps down. After one hour the green flag flew and the race the petrol cars – The diesels seven Peugeot held a four sec- got underway it didn’t take really in a class of their own ond lead over the number one long for Audi’s race to start to round the 4.3 mile circuit. Audi, which was another four Audi were favourites, but no one told Peugeot... Photo: Jake Yorath Photo: Jake Photo: Brecht Decancq seconds ahead the two car. drive through for his move. geot through. The lions now Audi’s race then took anoth- An hour and a half in and held all podium places, a sur- er downturn, Bernhard made the number three Audi which prising turn of events consid- contact with the Genoa FLM had made its way up to third ering the dominance of Audi car sending the Genoa car into place suffered another set- during the rest of the week- a series of spins and causing back, this time in the hands of end. This lead increased over damage to the rear bodywork Capello. The Italian acciden- the when Treluyer put his of the Audi. The one car pitted tally pressed the pit limiter on black machine into the gravel immediately, the rear section the pit straight and as a result which resulted in a trip back being replaced while taking lost his position to Stephane to the pits losing yet more on new tyres, fuel, and driver Sarrazin in the eight Peugeot. time. The first and only safety Dumas, however problems get- Two hours down and the seven car was then called out after ting the section attached lost Peugeot still led, second was suffered a the number one crew a minute, the two Audi and third the nine suspension failure on his Level the car re-joining in sixth. In Peugeot while in LMP2 Signate- 5 Motorsports Lola that pitched LMP2 the Greaves Zytek led at ch now led the way. him into the wall at Eau Rouge. the first hour mark but their The Audi challenge once Despite the heavy impact Bou- race was comprised not long again took another hit just af- chut was fine, and was quick to after when hit the ter the two hour mark - an un- show displeasure at the mar- rear of the scheduled pit stop for Treluyer shals who attached the tow Lola causing them both to take to remove a piece of tyre pick truck the wrong point of the a trip into the gravel. Oijeh re- up delayed the second placed car and ripped more pieces off joined quickly but was given a car and allowed the third Peu- the already beaten Lola. TDS Racing took victory in LMP2 ece hs ego i the re-join to able was He in gravel. Peugeot his beached and Rivage at wide ran Lamy Pedro until was that out, lock podium a for comfortable ing look - two were Peugeot around minutes.) for lane pit the of end the at held being after time more yet losing car number two (the 6 and 5 4, Audi and 3 2, 1, positions holding Peugeot resumed, racing the left the safety car came in and With just over half the time the half over just With C lic hleg ws vr Yt not Yet over. was challenge Audi’s section. rear a new fit to pit to had and Oreca Racing TDS the by hit was Kristensen for lead, the a battle had have might we like looked it when ots ahead of him, however just and Peuge mission both of out time taking a on really was Kristensen place. third for him hands of Kristensen had passed the in now the Audi three number before not out, him dug quickly had marshals the after k fo www.lemans-series.com r fu ll res u - lts all Frenchcrewedcar. home forty two seconds ahead of the car the bringing Wurz though, troubles such no had car seven The eighth. in down finish eventually would nine crew The wheel. the behind Pagenaud with sus- failure pension a suffering Peugeot the spot, podium final the take to through back Audi tipped low yel- the allowed which again once trouble hit that Peugeot nine the was it and after long

Photos: Dan Bathie Photo: Alex Roache

GT1 world Portugal Nissan: sunny Algarve, Round 1, May 8 By Alex Roache

ast year’s FIA GT1 The lump of lead certainly thriller at the Autódro- had its desired effect – the mo Internacional do Lambo was way off the free Algarve remains fresh practice pace set by Stefan inL many fans’ memories, not Mücke in the #8 Young Driver least owing to Brit Richard shared with Dar- Westbrook’s monumental ren Turner. It was close at the charge through the field from front, with the Marc VDS Ford the back of the grid in the GT of Yann Clairay and Maxime crucial championship race. Martin (who had been getting In its short tenure as a host in some sneaky practice guest circuit on the international driving the LMP Motorsport GT3 sportscar racing scene – during Aston) just three-thousandths which time both FIA GT and, of a second shy and their team- in 2009, the Le Mans Series, mates Hennerici and Leinders have paid visits – the Portimão only two-hundredths off that. venue has won a reputation for Qualifying promised much. being one of the most enter- And it delivered – although taining, challenging and down- the chief protagonists were right spectacular tracks on the not who we might have ex- calendar. pected. Out of nowhere the There is barely a level piece Nissan GT-Rs rose to the fore, of tarmac on the entire 4.6km biding their time through qual- course, such is the sweeping ifying 1 and 2 and then blitzing gradient from one dramatic the timesheets when it mat- corner to the next. It’s very tered to lock out the front two much the latter-day Öster- rows. Westbrook and Dumb- reichring, albeit without Julie reck clinched pole for JR Mot- Andrews prancing across a lush orsports, but were less than a green mountainside in the mid- tenth ahead of the Sumo Power dle distance. GT Nissan of Zonta and Bernol- It comes as no surprise, then, di. that the arrival of the world’s Fans of racing secretly cursed Of course I premier GT championships in under their breath – we were the Algarve is a welcome oc- to be denied a repeat of West- was relieved casion both for the teams and brook’s heroic drive from the drivers, and for fans Grand back in last year’s event – but that I didn't“ Touring car racing around the it was a shot in the arm for the globe. two Nissan squads after their Marc Basseng and his All- disastrous outings in Zolder. have to battle Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport And besides, the ingredients squad arrived on the crest of a were still in place for excellent with a team wave after a convincing double race, with the #23 JRM GT-R of whammy of victories in Zolder Michael Krumm and mate because which thrust the German and in 3rd alongside the second his compatriot and teammate Sumo car of Campbell-Walter we don't want to the top and Brabham. The #8 Mücke/ of the drivers’ standings. An Turner Aston had let itself to crash into eye-watering 50kg of success down badly after posting what ballast for rounds 5 and 6, was in fact the fourth quick- each other however, would ensure the #38 est time in qualifying – Mücke Murciélago didn’t trundled back into the pits and Michael krumm have it quite so easy this time. straight to his garage, com- Photo: Alex Roache Qualifying Race Nissan Show their power he pack taxied the inside and tagged the #20 pled chasing pack. Dumbreck through the roller- Sumo Power GT car into a spin led from Krumm and Brabham, coaster final turn as it turned in behind Dumb- and once again, as in Belgium, behind the pace car, reck. The car escaped largely a crafty had thenT over the crest on the undamaged, but any hope of negotiated the first corner ker- start/finish straight as the a decent finish was scuppered fuffle to leap up the order. lights took a painfully long and Bernoldi and Zonta were The young Dutchman was time to go green. cursing their luck once again. running 4th, in the sole Exim Impatiently the field broke But the carnage had hardly Bank Team China Corvette, formation and fanned out begun. Into turn three Kox was but as the race settled he was across the width of the track, still in the wars, coming to- quickly under pressure from so as the lights changed at last gether with the Bas Leinders and also Do- it was difficult to tell who was Ford GT to set off a series of minik Schwager in the luckless making up significant ground collisions involving the #3 Abu #37 All-Inkl.com, which had over whom. Dumbreck and Dhabi-winning Hexis Aston miraculously managed to com- Bernoldi sprinted clear, but, of Stef Dusseldorp, and Alex plete the opening lap without just as at Zolder, one of the Müller in the #7 Young Driver incident. front row starters was destined DBR9 – the German’s Aston Turner wasted no time be- not to make it beyond the first crunching into the spinning hind the bright red Corvette, corner in one piece. Swiss Racing Lamborghini and diving through at turn one and Side-by-side into the braking launching up on two wheels, setting off after the leading zone, Bernoldi backed off to the suspension shattered. It trio. Schwager, too, was in a concede the corner to the JRM was to be an early bath for him hurry, drawing alongside Cats- Nissan – the Brazilian clearly and Czech teammate Thomas burg under braking for turns 11 playing the long game – but Enge. and 12 then sweeping around he hadn’t banked on the am- In all the drama the three the outside of the #11 car in bitiousness of the fast-starting remaining Nissans had checked turn 13. ’s Marc #5 Swiss Racing Murciélago of out at the front, some distance VDS Ford GT followed the Lam- , who nosed down ahead of the somewhat crip- borghini through, but it wasn’t over yet. Schwager ran wide in up the inside at turn one and the tighter turn 14 and Martin reclaiming a lead which he was alongside, hoping to make would not lose again despite it two passes in two corners. Luhr’s best efforts. There were The three of them were neck suggestions of team orders, and neck through the final few but it was obvious the pair of corners but Schwager retained them were racing hard. 5th. A one-two-three finish for There was only one significant Nissan was completed by the change during the pit window, #21 Sumo GT-R of Jamie Camp- and it was for the lead. Krumm bell-Walter and David Brab- pitted one lap earlier than ham, while Turner/Mücke and teammate Dumbreck, handing Schwager/Pastorelli rounded over to Luhr who immediate- out the top five. ly slammed in a quick lap on Westbrook was understand- fresh tyres. The #22 car was in ably delighted with his maiden a lap later – the JRM pit crew GT1 victory and with Nissan’s furiously running around the dominance of the qualify- car juggling wheels and pneu- ing race: “It’s one hell of an matic guns – and as Westbrook achievement to have three took the reins and screeched cars on the podium. After the out the pitlane it became clear stops I felt like I had a better that Luhr had done enough to car than Lucas in the first few snatch the lead. laps. I could see him strug- Westbrook, though, had oth- gling particularly in the last er ideas. The Brit stuck like corner so I thought ‘here’s my glue to the rear bumper of his chance’. You can definitely teammate, shadowing him for overtake here, so the race to- several laps before burying it morrow is wide open.”

Photo: Alex Roache pletely forgetting parc fermé through turns 1, 2 and 3 and rules and incurring a grid pen- going wheel-to-wheel into the alty which saw it tumble down hairpin at turn 5 followed by the order. The Young Driver a lively but very well-behaved duo would be needing some of field from third backwards – that Westbrook magic later in nobody wanted a repeat of the the afternoon. race one chaos. Following JR Motorsport’s The #22 car held position at dominance of Saturday’s quali- the front, and Luhr and the fying race, the front row for rest of the pack settled in to Sunday’s championship race the chase with third-placed was an all-black affair, with Jamie-Campbell Walter fend- plenty of potential for some ing off Mücke and the two All- red-faced drivers should any of Ink.com Murciélagos. the Nissans come together at Further down the order an turn one. immense three-way battle for Westbrook controlled the 8th was developing between the front pace – a very slow pace – on the second Sumo Power GT row for the run up to the start line, Nissan of Ricardo Zonta – still so the pack was like a cork suffering the consequences sunday's out of a champagne bottled of its race one demise – Marc “ when the lights turned green. Hennerici in the #40 Ford GT race was an The front two rows sprinted and a charging all black away in formation, Westbrook in the Team China Corvette. and Luhr battling all the way Zonta was under pressure, and affair

Photo: Alex Roache through the penultimate cor- for the pitlane limit. transpired the car had n over- ner Hennerici was close enough jumped in the heating gearbox. for a toe down the straight. But #21 Sumo Nissan, Turner was in And sure enough, Krumm was the Marc VDS car got a little out for Mücke in the #8 Aston, and suddenly all over Dumbreck, of shape through the long final Schwager replaced Pastorelli sneaking through on the exit corner, and suddenly the Ger- behind the wheel of the #37 of turn 12 where Dumbreck man was on the defensive from Lamborghini. The Young Driver seemed to have no drive. It was Hezemans. Resistance was fu- AMR lollipop was first up, but only a matter of time before tile against the grunt of the Turner hesitated, almost stall- the GT-R expired completely, Corvette’s V8 as they crossed ing. When the clutch bit a split and the inevitable happened a the line, and even before the second later he launched out few laps later at turn 4 – a frus- braking area Hezemans had of the pits a mere few feet trating way to end a weekend completed the pass. ahead of Schwager but several that had started in such prom- By the time the pit window car lengths ahead of Brabham ising fashion. opened, the JRM GT-Rs were – the Sumo GT-R had lost out While new leaders Krumm long gone and Campbell-Wal- badly. and Luhr were cruising to the ter still had is mirrors full of Back at the sharp end, the chequered flag with a sizeable the Mücke-piloted Young Driver #22 Nissan pitted after a su- lead, Brabham in the #21 Sumo Aston Martin. Once again Luhr perb opening stint and Dumb- Power GT Nissan was making pitted first out of the two lead reck rejoined still comfortably up for lost ground during the Nissans, and was followed in in the lead – surely a reason for pitstops. The Ozzy had made several moments later by the Westbrook to celebrate. But short work of Schwager in the JC-W/Mücke/Pastorelli train, the Brit was looking troubled aftermath of the pitstops, each of them squirming on the and, and after several intense and was now hounding former brakes as they shed their speed conversations with engineers it teammate Darren Turner in the white and orange Aston Martin. if I stayed calm and make no “But it was a shame because The Nissan was ever so slightly mistakes there wouldn’t be they [Westbrook and Dumb- quicker, but Turner kept a cool an opening for him to squeeze reck] won yesterday and they head and was able to bring his through.” deserved to win as much as we and Stefan Mücke’s DBR9 home How right he was. It was nev- did today.” to a very strong second place ertheless an excellent effort The result elevated race- on what was evidently Nissan from Brabham and Campbell- winners Michael Krumm and GT-R territory. Walter to score their first po- Lucas Luhr to joint 2nd in the “I was very conscious of how dium of 2011, but it was an drivers’ championship, level on strong the Nissans had been admirably contrite Michael points as they were with the over the weekend,” said Turn- Krumm and Lucas Luhr who Young Driver Aston Martin pair- er afterwards. “Having David took victory and scored maxi- ing of Darren Turner and Ste- (Brabham) behind me was mum points from the weekend. fan Mücke. Marc Basseng and quite daunting at times, but “Of course I was relieved Markus Winkelhock remained I just thought ‘well he’s been that I didn’t have to battle 20 points clear in the lead as my teammate before and what with a teammate because we the GT1 circus headed to Ger- would he do in this situation, don’t want to crash into each many for the fourth round of just stay calm’ so I thought other,” commented Krumm. the championship.

Photo: Alex Roache CHampionship Race Winners Lucas Luhr (Ger) Michael Krumm (Ger) JR Motorsports Nissan GT-R

Third Stefan Mucke (DEU) Darren Turner (GBR) Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9

Third Jamie Campbell-Walter (GBR) David Brabham (CZE) SUMO POwer Nissan GT-R

Qualifying Race Winners Richard Westbrook (GBr) Peter Dumbreck (Ger) JR Motorsports Nissan GT-R

next round Great Britain Silverstone, June 5

Click for full results www.gt1world.com

All artwork thanks to Andy Blackmore Design www.andyblackmoredesign.com GT1 World Germany Hexillent Sachsenring, May 14th - 15th By Jake Yorath exis Aston Martin er first corner fracas in the That meant the unfortunate took another vic- Championship event. yellow machine would be dad tory at the Sach- As the cars lined up for the last on the grid. senring, with An- Championship race, the news He was in good company dreaH Piccini and Christian for Antoine Leclerc and Ford with veterans Bas Leinders Hohenadel the beneficiaries (and Leclerc’s team mate and Mike Hezemans both of more incredible pitwork Clairay, who would start) stranded at the back, having from the French squad. continued to be bad, as the not even seen the track in the Maxime Martin and Fred Ma- Belgian driver was sent five first race at all. kowiecki had looked strong, places further back than he At the drop of the flag (or having won the qualifying would have liked after caus- turn of the lights), Martin led race, but retired after suf- ing the accident at the first the field towards turn one. fering damage in yet anoth- corner in the Qualifying Race. Immediately he was outraced Photo: DPPI/GT1World.com Photo: DPPI/GT1World.com F VDS for success more Race Qualifying ih ik Psoel a the head ofthe field. at Pastorelli Nicky with released were field the fore be laps, four lasted that car hander. That brought a safety right the of out it making not 9 and 40 numbers with turn, other cars colliding at the first the race, with all three of the in Fords other the to contrast for thewin. value top was but exit) pit at line white the crossed ing were hav- action who with threatened teams several among were (they appeal an survived GT Ford VDS The Marc Qualifying Sachsenring. at the Race in victory h vcoy a i stark in was victory The n h gi t take to grid the on 14th from Makowiecki stormed Martin Maxime and red - all headed for their pitstops. pitstops. their for headed all behind Driver) Young for er Turn and - Hexis for (Piccione Astons two the and Pastorelli and rejoininglast. ing up pointing the wrong way end German unfortunate the Ford collided with Alex Müller, Belgian with driven French brook. West Richard mate team his and German the swiftly both passed Frenchman the and with deal to Makowiecki Krumm had and later much Not hard. too little a power the applied having gravel the in ended who Dutchman, the for on moment horror a into swiftly turned was Catsburg Krumm Michael Nicky from At the first opportunity, first the At the charge, his Continuing pass heroic a him, Behind - - job.” Nothing elsetosay. amazing an job, amazing an did “Fred succinctly: rather fourth. Hughes and third Mücke ond, sec- home comes Dusseldorp holding the lead until pits, the flag. the exits he as seldorp Dus- alongside appears Martin the Maxime and Ford stretch the of legs to track had he’sclear but last almost in Mücke. Turner’sby driven of now Aston, ahead Zonta) Ricardo for put Nissan man Warren Hughes (in who Power, Sumo from too, tactics, Superb lengers. chal his of ahead well dorp put to Dussel- mate bag team Piccione’s the of out stop super a pull Hexis again, Yet Martin summed up the race the up summed Martin Makowiecki bring VDS Marc - Photo: Brecht Decancq Photo: Brecht Decancq by Stef Dusseldorp in the Hexis slipped to sixth under the re- Aston, but the Belgian’s ap- sulting safety car, suffering the proach was a robust one and early effects of the damage the Aston bounced across the from his first corner contact gravel after contact from the with Mücke’s Young Driver As- Ford. Mücke also made contact ton Martin. with the VDS car. Also running As the drizzle came down, wide was Richard Westbrook in the cars were released from the the JRM Nissan. safety car ten minutes into the The crashing wasn’t over race with Stefan Mücke leading To win in yet, because at turn two, To- Christian Hohenadel, with Do- mas Enge and minick Schwager’s Lamborghini made heavy side by side con- third. Behind them, Hezemans Germany with tact that forced the Austrian and Leinders both attack Yann all my friends“ into the path of his unfortunate Clairay in short order, the bam- team mate Max Nilsson, and boozled Frenchman shuffled both Swiss were two places down by the double here is just out on the spot with extremely pass. heavy damage. At the front, it was all ac- fantastic was lucky to escape with noth- tion, with the two Astons door ing worse than a bounce across handle to door handle, with Christian the gravel in her Ford, but she GT3 champion Hohenadel look- Hohenadel then connected with the un- ing faster than his more expe- lucky VDS Ford of Leinders. rienced compatriot ahead, but Wendlinger’s suspension was unable to find a way through wrecked after a big rear im- without heavy contact. It pact from Nilsson, and Enge, came a lap later at turn one, too, was forced out thanks the younger driver muscling to suspension damage from his way through and despite the broadside contact. Max- a hefty nudge in return from ime Martin, meanwhile, had Mücke, began to pull away and Photo: Jake Yorath Photo: BrechtDecancq Photo: Dan Bathie Photo: Brecht Decancq left the Aston Martin to Do- (again) were the Hexis crew. minick Schwager, who passed Dusseldorp came in from just a lap later in the same 13th and returned in a net spot. fifth place: a superb turna- Maxime Martin, howev- round from driver and squad. er, was into the pits with a Heartbreak though, for puncture after the turn one All-Inkl. As the car returned incident. The Belgian was to from the pits, it was still retire, claiming that Mücke behind Bernoldi (who had hit him before he hit Hohe- taken over from Hughes) nadel, but replays suggest but things were about to get that his version of events is even worse for the German not necessarily correct. team. A sheered nut at the Warren Hughes, mean- right rear caused a huge mo- while, began to come under ment for Marc Basseng, who severe pressure from Cham- produced a save of real qual- pionship leader Markus Win- ity, but he could only steer kelhock in the 37 Lamborghi- the car across the gravel and ni, with Leinders applying into retirement. He cut a similar levels of pressure to dejected figure, perched on fellow veteran Mike Heze- a marshals’ hut to ponder mans in the sole Corvette. what might have been as he At the first sign of a chance saw more probable points to stop, almost half the field slip away to mechanical woe. pitted in one go, including At the last chance, the Nis- the top four while Winkel- sans of Brabham and West- hock, at his ‘home’ round, brook both pit, but the gap stayed out in an attempt to between the two is not in- make hay while the sun was considerable. Brabham’s struggling to make it through team mate Campbell-Walter the German sky. The Lam- would rejoin fifth and West- borghini was fast but not fast brook’s partner Dumbreck enough, while even faster seventh. Ahead of them af-

there was more incredible pitwork from french squad hexis“ Photo: Brecht Decancq

Photo: Brecht Decancq

ter the stops, Andrea Piccini his chance of points was gone. lead of the Championship af- comfortably led Nicky Pas- That left Bernoldi, Camp- ter four rounds. Second were torelli, the 38 car finally able bell-Walter and Catsburg to and Dominik to last a little in race trim. run nose to tail until the flag, Schwager (at last) and third Darren Turner was third. and though Dumbreck caught Darren Turner, whose car sur- For sixth place, Nicky Cats- the trio, there would be no vived early contact with team burg really pressured Camp- change from Bernoldi in fourth mate Stefan Mücke to claim a bell-Walter’s Sumo Power down to the Scot at the flag, podium. Nissan, while team mate Ber- which was taken for the first “It’s my first win in GT1, I noldi was under severe pres- time in the GT1 World Cham- didn’t expect it so soon,” ex- sure from Clivio Piccione for pionship by Andrea Piccini, plained Hohenadel. “To win Hexis. But the Monegasque sharing with Christian Hohe- in Germany with all my friends driver would be in trouble nadel for Hexis Aston Martin. here is just fantastic.” before long, as his right front The victory moved the pair- The next round sees the deflated as he attacked the fi- ing ahead of Marc Basseng and series visit Britain, with the nal turn. He recovered, but Markus Winkelhock into the Tourist Trophy at Silverstone. CHampionship Race Winners Christian Hohenadel (DEU) Andrea Piccini (ITA) Aston Martin DBR9

Second Nicky Pastorelli (ITA) Dominik Schwager (DEU) All-inkl.com lamborghini Murcielago 670 r-s

.. Third Stefan Mucke (DEU) Darren Turner (GBR) Young Driver Aston Martin DBR9

Qualifying Race Winners Maxime MArtin (BEL) Fred Makowiecki (FRA) Marc VDS FORD GT

Drivers' standings teams' standings next round 1st: 1st: Great Britain Piccini/ Hohenadel 61 Hexis AMR 107 Silverstone, June 5 2nd: 2nd: Basseng/ Winkelhock 57 All-Inkl.com 90 3rd: 3rd: Mücke/ Turner 56 Young Driver AMR 87

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All artwork thanks to Andy Blackmore Design www.andyblackmoredesign.com Photo: Alex Roache GT3 Europe Portugal BMW, Audi share Portuguese Bounty Algarve, Round 1, May 8 By Alex Roache he ‘pinnacle’ of GT Competition’s favour – there the magnificent Mercedes-Benz racing on this planet was no denying that the FIA SLS AMG GT3 – which took its may be a distinction GT3 European Champion- international bow (and a podi- enjoyed exclusively ship was back with a bang in um) at the Dubai 24hrs earlier byT the FIA GT1 World Cham- Portimão as the 28-strong field this year – and the beautiful, pionship, but there’s little took to the track at the Au- aggressively-styled doubt that in 2011 Stéphane tódromo Internacional do Al- Italia. These models represent Ratel’s headline series will garve for rounds one and two the new breed of GT3 car, the be eyeing its elder sibling, of 2011. one which is set to push the the FIA GT3 European Cham- The usual suspects were series forward in performance pionship, with a touch of out in force: the Porsche 911 terms – a fact embraced by envy. Bigger grids, a vast ar- GT3s run by ProSpeed; LMP many of the teams, with four ray of manufacturers and, to Motorsport’s two Aston Mar- 458s on the grid and no less top it off, threats by Ratel to tin DBRS9s; four Audi R8 LMSs than seven Mercs. can GT1 if entries for 2012 courtesy of Sainteloc Racing The traditional combination don’t improve – all of which and Zak Brown’s United Aut- of professional and gentle- seems to point towards FIA osport squad; two teams of man drivers in each team was GT3 being the favoured child two BMW Z4 GT3s; and a single also sure to spice things up – (for the moment at least). Reiter Engineering Lamborghi- the former contesting the first Despite an inelegant conclu- ni Gallardo. qualifying session and the lat- sion to the 2010 series – which Much of the excitement, ter getting behind the wheel saw the teams’ title decided however, surrounded the for the second – and a series of in the court rooms in ProSpeed championship’s new machines, performance balancing meas- Photos: Alex Roache

ures (as distinct from ballast) and Gary Hirsch in the #4 Graff had been put in place after Racing SLS. pre-season testing to ensure no At the start of race one, the one car would dominate. Dif- pole-sitting #6 BMW was well ferent minimum weights, ride and truly mugged on the run heights and air restrictors were to the first corner. As the lights imposed, leaving one or two turned green on the enormous teams feeling somewhat hard GT3 pack Lambotte was already done by – not least the squads streaking away from Sandström running the Audi R8s LMS and and the third-placed #25 Reit- Ford GT. er Lamborghini was alongside, Sure enough, on the Satur- as was Dan Brown in the #51 AF day morning it was the #50 AF Corse Ferrari. Corse Ferrari 458 of Francesco Strangely, though, a massive- Castellacci and Frederico Leo ly overly-cautious Lambotte – which took first blood with who carried a lead of several pole for race one, the near- car lengths into the braking est Audi (Team WRT #33) in 5th zone for turn one – suddenly there was no and over a second shy. In quali- came over all defensive, un- fying two, however, an embar- necessarily covering the inside mistaking the rassing mishap for the #50 Fer- line and bunching up the fol- rari saw Leo crash out having lowing pack. A quick thinking excitement“ as set the third quickest time. Enzo Ide in the #33 Audi swept The car was too badly dam- around the outside, passing the world's aged to compete in that after- four cars in one fell swoop and noon’s race, promoting the #6 seizing the lead. The #6 BMW Need For Speed Team Schubert was down to 5th. foremost GT BMW of Edward Sandström and The frenzied opening laps Abdulaziz Al Faisal to pole. claimed a number of victims, series arrived They would be joined on the most of them Audi R8s – the front row by Joakim Lambotte United Autosport car of Mark at the Circuit

Photo: Alex Roache

Patterson and Joe Osborne was Mercedes of Dominik Baumann botte, Sandström, Brown and spun around, and the #16 and managed to spin off under yel- Patrick Hirsch in close com- #32 Audis came together after low flags and collect the Ferra- pany. As they blasted towards an ambitious lunge into turn ri, sending marshals fleeing in the line for the restart, the three from the Sainteloc Rac- all directions. The Austrian had five of them were well ahead ing car. Brit Paul Rees’s #20 been going for an ever-dimin- of the rest of the field – the MTECH Ferrari 458 also suc- ishing gap up the inside of one sixth-placed #25 Lamborghini cumbed to its injuries after of the DB Motorsport , was limping along behind with a panel-bashing first few cor- and a wheel on the grass had a puncture, the following pack ners, pulling to the side of the sent him pirouetting out of unsure whether they ought to track on the run down to the control as he entered the yel- be passing or not. hairpin at turn five. low flag zone. It was a close But it was all change at the Then, in one of the more bi- shave, but thankfully nobody front with Lambotte and Sand- zarre and frightening incidents was hurt. ström passing Ide, and the in GT racing in recent years, A safety car period ensured Need For Speed BMW simulta- as Rees’s car was being towed and the race was neutralised, neously launching an attack on away the #44 Heico Motorsport with Ide still leading and Lam- the Mercedes, slicing through

Photo: Alex Roache at turn one and pulling out a race stewards’ suspicions were significant lead. piqued. And then it was time for the In the meantime, the sec- pitstops. A mandatory 75-sec- ond #7 Need For Speed Z4 ond period when the cars must of Claudia Hürtgen was on a the fia GT3 be stationary is supposed to charge having lost time queu- ensure the racing happens on ing behind the ailing Reiter European the track rather than in the Lamborghini on the earlier re- pitlane, but after the driver start. The German was locked Championship“ changes occurred the #4 Graff in a scrap with Scot Glynn Ged- Racing Mercedes – now with die in the #51 Ferrari (which Gary Hirsch behind the wheel would, the following weekend, was back – had closed up considerably to claim pole at the British GT the lead BMW with Al Faisal, round at Snetterton), swapping with a bang and several other cars had also positions several times before inexplicably leapfrogged their the matte black BMW scythed in Portimao rivals during the stops. The through and set about chasing the second-placed Graff Rac- watching Enzo Ide’s tactics ing Mercedes. into turn one in the first race She wouldn’t have to chase – as the field charged into the too hard. In the first of a string first corner the #9 Aston was I never of penalties dished out by the sweeping around the outside in stewards for undercutting the an ambitious bid for the lead. thought we minimum pitstop time, the #4 The Belgian found himself SLS had to complete a pitlane without enough room, howev- would “ win drive-through, dropping it out er, and was forced to resort to of contention. Reigning cham- the massive expanse of run-off pions ProSpeed and the Bell/ to maintain his momentum – a here. for me Brown United Autosports Audi little cheeky when the rest of were clobbered with a similar the pack was keeping to the this is punishment. black stuff. The demise of the Lambotte/ After a tidy first lap with unbelievable. Hirsch Mercedes promoted the some great, clean jostling for #7 BMW into third, and that’s position, the order at the front Enzo ide where it finished. Nobody was was largely unchanged – Parisy, able to trouble Al Faisal at the Griffin, Martin, Kostka and Leo. front – the Saudi driver brought Further down the field, Ged- home the other Need For die’s 458 was locked in combat Speed machine to take victory for 19th with the #33 Audi of ahead of the #3 Graff Racing Gregory Franchi, the two of Mercedes of Mike Parisy and the, having to take dramatic Philippe Giaque. avoiding action as Albert von Graff Racing’s celebrations, Thurn und Taxis’s Reiter Lam- however, were short-lived. A borghini spun to a standstill in failure to serve a drive-through front of them. landed the #3 car a 33-second The race one winning Need time penalty, knocking it back For Speed BMW was not far up to 4th and bumping the Hürt- the road having started 18th, gen/Walter Z4 into second for and as the race settled down a Need For Speed 1-2. DB Mot- the #6 car was making good orsport’s Hoevert Vos and Jer- progress in the hands of Al oen den Boer claimed the final Faisal. Twelve laps in, though, podium spot, completing an and the white and black Z4 was impressive 1-2-3 for BMW. all of a sudden parked in the Race two on Sunday was a gravel with its nose caved in. somewhat less frenetic affair, A hundred yards up the road, but provided a topsy-turvy re- Gary Hirsch’s Graff Racing Mer- sult nonetheless. Mike Parisy’s cedes was buried in the Armco. pole position provided some It seemed too great a coinci- consolation to his team after dence that their incidents were their race one mishaps, and unrelated, but the TV director they were joined on the front was struggling for a clear shot row by British squad MTECH of what happened. Several in- Motorsport with Matt Griffin in conclusive angles later and it the #21 Ferrari. The fellow 458 was all we could do to assume of Leo/Castellacci would start that Al Faisal had launched an 3rd, with GT1 ace Maxime Mar- over-ambitious move on the #3 tin piloting the LMP Motorsport SLS, smashing into its side and Aston Martin DBRS9 in 4th. punting it up the road and into Martin had obviously been the barriers. An exasperated Photos: Alex Roache

Sandström took off his helmet picked off first by the 458 of Audi Club R8 home for a well- in the pits – no action for him Castellacci and then by Do- deserved yet rather unexpect- today, and no repeat of the minik Baumann in the #44 Mer- ed victory. previous day’s success. cedes (making amends for his “I never thought we would The ensuing safety car period disastrous race one collision win here,” beamed Ide after- turned the race on its head. It with Paul Rees’s stationary wards. “For me, this is unbe- coincided precisely with the Ferrari). lievable. I think we had luck opening of the pit window, but But the battle was on at the with the safety car, but it only Franchi in the #33 Audi front. Ide, a mere ‘gentleman’ wasn’t this simple with the and Thurn und Taxis in the sole driver, had been closed down Ferrari that was so close to me Lamborghini Gallardo were in by Castellacci and was resist- and the tyres were getting very a position to pit immediately. ing intense pressure from the worn, but I managed to stay in It was a gift from above. With Ferrari. This was the old versus front of the Ferrari. Thanks to their rivals bunched up behind the new in terms of GT3 ma- the team and everybody for the safety car they gained an chinery, and the Audi was hold- this win.” enormous chunk of time, and ing up remarkably well in the Consistent runs and a solid when the order shook out af- Belgian’s hands. While clearly haul of points by the #7 Need ter the rest of the pack ad pit- quicker and stronger on the For Speed Team Schubert BMW ted, the Audi and the Lambo brakes, the Ferrari 458 was – in both races at Portimão sees – now piloted by Ide and Meyr- as it had been for much of the Claudia Hürtgen and Csaba Melnhof respectively – had weekend – suffering with low Walter leading the FIA GT3 Eu- snatched the top two spots speed traction issues, slither- ropean Championship by a sin- from the Parisy/Giaque Merc ing around on the exit of cor- gle point from Ide and Franchi and the Griffin/Cameron Fer- ners and punishing its tyres. as the series heads to Silver- rari. Castellacci simply couldn’t stone for rounds 3 and 4 in On the restart Meyr-Melnhof get within striking distance, June, supporting the FIA GT1 began his backward slide, and Ide brought the Belgian World Championship again. Blancpain Endurance Series VITa4one Victorious Navvara, Spain, Rounds 2, May 6-7 By Blancpain Endurance Series Thirty cars lined up on the grid Jack Gerber in the nr50 AF eral laps before the Vita4One for Round 2 of the Blancpain Corse Ferrari to take second Ferrari moved ahead and Endurance Series, fter a fas- place. The AF Corse Fer- started to close the 3 second cinating first round at Monza, rari was also passed by Frank gap that Ortelli had man- hopes were high for another Kechele in the Vita4One Fer- aged to open up to his rivals. good encounter. rari on the run into Turn 9, While Kechele was charging Stephane Ortelli in the nr32 with the German closing the forward, Roda’s Porsche came Belgian Audi Club Audi R8 led gap to challenge the second under pressure from the two the cars into the first turn as placed Porsche. SOFREV ASP Ferrari’s of Lu- the race began, with the nr9 Ortelli continued to lead dovic Badey in the nr20 458 AutOrlando Porsche of Gian- the race as Kechele chal- and in the nr10 luca Roda moving ahead of lenged Roda, but it took sev- Ferrari.

Photo: FFSA which had started at the back the at started had which Hayek, A Marc of Lamborghini third placeintheGT4Cup. to slipped Nissan the 11 lap on do Piscopo and Fredy Barth and the two ’s of Edoar by in reeled being was combe Bun of Alex Nissan Motorsport RJN 63 nr the Class GT4 the In h n2 Bacan Reiter Blancpain nr24 The - - h rud cas inr was winner class 1 round the pits the to trips more several after but battery the to traced was problem The 12. lap on pitstop unscheduled an made to a halt when the Lamborghini but Hayek’s charge was brought field the up progress rapid ing mak was qualifying, in engine blown a following grid the of - was abitofconfusionwhen at the side of the track. There the last corner and was parked at off went Shearer Philip of 430 Ferrari Garage Sport nr22 the 17 lap On second. a than less to leading Audi the to gap the close to able was Kechele forced toretire. Back at the front of the field I think at the moment I am one of the happiest men“ in the world Thirty cars lined up“ on the grid for Round 2 Photos: VImages/ Fabre some drivers said they saw Turn 15 and hit the barriers, ing Ginetta G50 of Diego Alessi Safety Car boards being shown destroying the front end of his caught fire. The back of the and Ortelli decided to slow car and the track was covered GT4 Class car was well alight down. Kechele, who made the in debris. The pitlane suddenly when the Italian pulled over decision that the Safety Car came alive as teams rushed to after Turn 14 and made a rapid wasn’t deployed, closed right take advantage of the situa- exit to safety. The lead Ferrari up to the Audi and swept into tion. pitted and the lead went to the the lead. Kechele then set At the restart on lap 29 the nr1 Vita4One Ferrari, now with about building a 5-second lead nr20 SOFREV Ferrari of Ludovic Nico Verdonck at the wheel. to his rivals as the Ferrari con- Badey was leading the race After the marshals had ex- tinued to run faultlessly. having failed to complete its tinguished the fire and dragged On lap 24 the Safety Car first stop. Badey continued to the stricken Ginetta behind was deployed when the nr50 lead when the second Safety the barriers racing resumed. AF Corse Ferrari 458 of Jack Car period came into force af- Verdonck started to pull ahead Gerber went off the track at ter the nr73 De Lorenzi Rac- of Bert Longin in the nr32 Audi,

Lotus claimed another GT4 class win (top) while the Spanish weather served up a treat Photos: VImages/ Fabre who was being caught by the just before Gianmaria brought have first gear, allowing Al- nr9 AutOrlando Porsche of Raf- the AutOrlando Porsche for its buquerqe in the nr32 Audi to faele Gianmaria and the nr33 second and final stop. Ver- close and pass on the inside of Belgian Audi Club R8 of Marcel donck handed over to reigning the first corner on lap 92. Fassler. On lap 40 Longin was GT1 World Champion Michael Meanwhile disaster struck passed by the Porsche at the Bartels who regained the track the nr70 Lotus Italia Evora of last corner and then three laps over 15 seconds ahead of the Greg Mansell. With a one lap later fell victim to Fassler’s Porsche and looked set to win advantage over their nearest Audi when the Swiss driver fol- his first race in a GT3 car. The rivals the Lotus Italia team lowed two back markers who nr20 Ferrari was still leading looked set to repeat their passed Longin’s Audi to un lap the race on the road but still Monza win but the gearbox had themselves. had to make its final stop, but other ideas and failed on lap By lap 51 Verdonck was a not before Bartels swept past 89, forcing Mansell into retire- comfortable 8 seconds ahead Gouesland to take the lead on ment and handing the class win of Gianmaria’s Porsche and lap 72. to the Lotus Academy Evora of 15 seconds ahead of the third As the race entered the final Lorenz Frey. placed Audi. Longin, now in stages only four cars were on As the final laps counted 4th, was coming under pres- the lead lap, the nr1 Vita4One down the Vita4One team got sure from the SOFREV Ferrari Ferrari, the nr9 AutOrlando set to celebrate and they did of Patrice Goueslard and de- Porsche and the two Belgian just that as Michael Bartels cided to pit on lap 59 to hand Audi Club R8s. Paolo Roberti took the chequered flag to win over to Felipe Albuquerqe. was struggling with the Por- Round 2 of the Blancpain En- Verdonck pitted on lap 66 sche’s gearbox, which didn’t durance Series in Navarra. Avon Tyres British GT Championship United in victory Snetterton, Round 3, May 15 By Jake Yorath nited Autosports their car. with fourth on the grid, on- took a fantastic Earlier in the weekend, dur- board the updated Vantage maiden team win in ing qualifying, there were a Racing Aston DBRS9. GT4 pole the Avon Tyres Brit- number of surprises. Despite position went to the hard- ishU GT Championship at the only taking delivery of a bor- charging Michael Mallock in the newly revised Snetterton rowed (from AF Corse) Ferrari unpredictable, ABG prepared circuit in Norfolk. The team 458 on Friday, Glynn Geddie KTM; a strong performance fought hard in an incident was able to take pole position given their lack of track time packed race to come home for CRS. “We took a bit of a first time out at Oulton Park. first and notch up Audi’s first gamble with the set-up and it At the start, it was Hall, in win in the series too. worked,” explained the Scot. the bright yellow Aston Mar- Matt Bell and Mike Guasch “We made good improvements tin, who got the jump and was driving the lead Audi, twice in the session, which is a posi- leading by the time they ex- came back from drive through tive for the team who have ited the Montreal hairpin for penalties to take the win in worked so hard today. We only the first time. Light drizzle just truly dramatic fashion. How- got the car at eight o’clock last before the start meant that ever, with five laps to go it night, so to put it on pole is a conditions were tricky and the was a different story. Victory good reward for them.” former Aston Martin factory looked certain for CRS Racing’s Bell was second in the Audi driver was making the most of father-son duo, Jim and Glynn R8 LMS, with ever impressive it, streaking two seconds clear Geddie, but in the dying min- Dane, Allan Simonsen third for by the end of the first lap. utes of the race the pair were Rosso Verde with their Ferrari Guasch was second, and Char- required to stop by Race Con- 430 Scuderia. Series returnee, lie Bateman third for Scuderia trol to fix front-end damage to Stuart Hall raised eyebrows Vittoria, though this would be Photos: Jake Yorath Photo: Jake Yorath a battle with many twists. looking ever more at ease in Hall gently created a the 458 with every lap. healthy lead thanks partly to However, an opportunistic the second and third place move from Guasch relegated cars battling with each other the former Porsche Carrera for position, that was until Cup driver down to third. The Bateman finally found a way pacey American driver headed past the widest Audi in Europe into the pits at the first op- on the fourth tour. Positions portunity and was joined by remained the same between a number of other cars from the top four for the majority further down the pack too. of the first hour. The early pit strategy worked for the Anglo American team Elsewhere, on the ninth lap, with Matt Bell emerging at the disaster struck for reigning head of the field; this advan- champions, Trackspeed. After tage was short lived though, a troublesome first outing at as the team were handed Oulton which saw the two Por- a stop-go penalty because sche’s involved in a number of their stop was six seconds too incidents with other competi- short. That threw the posi- tors, this time they hit each tions somewhat, and a Ferrari other. Exiting onto what was 458 1-2-3 was looking likely. the Rivett straight, David Ash- Leading the way were the burn in the number one car Geddie’s, ahead of Matt Grif- had a big moment as he put fin (Mtech). Third was Michael the power down, violently Lyons (Scuderia Vittoria) and fishtailing left, then right and fourth the recovering Bell. collecting the unfortunate On lap 43, the battle for Gregor Fisken in the process. third came to a climax; Lyons Ashburn crawled to the grass and Bell went side by side, verge on the right, Fisken touched, and the contact was left stricken in the track; broke the Ferrari’s rear sus- both cars were destroyed and pension: game over. The fight would take no further part in for the lead was now the fo- the race. cus of the fans who turned out “It happens,” added a to watch the thrilling race. thankfully uninjured Ashburn. At the head of the field, “I feel more guilty for knock- Ferrari development driver, ing my partner out!” Griffin was closing on Geddie “Those little birds went hand over fist. As they be- ‘tweet, tweet, tweet’ all gain their 46th tour, the pair around me,” smiled Fisken. were neck and neck. Ahead “It’s not knocked any sense was Tom Black in the Vantage into me, so I better come Racing Aston, and as the duel- back.” ling leaders went to lap Black, After the safety car, Hall the pressure of their arrival again looked to stretch his broke his concentration. Ged- gap at the front. With the pit die sneaked past into turn window approaching, the Brit one, and in doing so panicked who knew his chances of a Black into a spin; Griffin was win were slim understandably left with nowhere to go and stayed out as late as possible. ploughed into the side of As- Behind him was Bateman, ton. The subsequent impact dam- moaned the defeated Scot. “To tions post Oulton, the pair yet aged the Ferrari’s radiator and be fair, I’m more disappointed again beat the Lotus’ this time Griffin knew his race was run. with whoever made the deci- on their front door step. Clut- Elsewhere, another Ferrari had sion to call us into the pits. ton and Belshaw didn’t have it damage. Leader, Geddie’s bon- We got second when it clearly all their own way though. They net had worked loose, but with should have been a win, and had to fight back from a penal- almost 30 seconds in hand over it’s disappointing not to get it ty (71 seconds!), awarded be- Bell, it looked like the CRS duo when it was right there in front cause Belshaw’s stint was too had enough in the bag to take of us.” long and surpassed the stated the win. But when the Audi Winner Bell was taken aback. maximum time. Clutton took driver was called in for a drive “Five minutes to go and 40 sec- the penalty and regained the through (for a yellow flag in- onds behind, I was just looking leader after passing Freddy fringement), it looked like the after the car. I was keeping it Nordstrom’s Lotus to win sev- Geddies were going to romp tidy and then it was a surprise eral laps from home. home. to me when I saw the Ferrari “We need to recalibrate our However, the front of the 458 coming out of the pits and I stop watches as we were out was dangerously flapping and was able to get him into the too long and that was why we looked almost ready to col- first corner!” got the penalty,” explained lapse. With five laps to go, the Sportcar supremo, Allan Si- Belshaw, “although it made stewards had no choice but to monsen brought the Rosso the race quite exciting!” order the CRS team to get the Verde 430 Scuderia home third, Nordstrom was second (shar- car into the pits to make safe having taken over from co-driv- ing with Leyton Clarke) and the damage. er Lester in eighth place. The the Ollie Jackson and Jack Sure enough, the black and brothers Jones were fourth in Drinkall Lotus third. Michael orange flag was shown at the their glorious Mercedes SLS; Mallock and Athanasios La- race leader and the team had Bell and Guasch’s team-mates, das were fourth after a nasty no choice but to pit. Jay Palmer and John Bintcliffe and unnecessary incident with With time of the essence, the fifth and Chad Racing sixth Nordstrom near the end. Mal- car was barely in the pitbox with their lurid green 430 Scu- lock unlapped himself and was before it was released again deria piloted by Iain Dockerill seemingly hit hard on the pit with some perfunctory racer and Steven Kane. straight by the Lotus, which tape added, the majority of GT3B was again taken by escaped the attention of the which had all but fallen off by Aaron Scott and John Dhillon race director and left the KTM the time the car reached the for Mtech, and GT Cup by the with severe suspension dam- end of the pitlane. As Geddie Chevron, driven by BTCC leg- age and a serious oil leak. exited pitlane, he was faced end, Anthony Reid and impres- The results from Snetterton with the galling sight of twice sive youngster, Jordan Witt. see Guasch and Bell at the penalised Bell powering past GT4 went the way of KTM top of the standings, 24 points into the first turn and on to and, again, it was Marcus Clut- ahead of the Jones brothers. victory. ton and Peter Belshaw taking Belshaw and Clutton head the “It’s the most disappointed the race honours. Despite the GT4 class from Nordstrom and I’ve been with second,” be- KTM receiving heavy restric- Clarke. Photos: Jake Yorath

It was a surprise to me when i saw“ the ferrari coming out of the pits

Matt Bell Britcar Endurance Series Total Eclipse At Donington Donington, Round 3, April 24 By Jurek Biegus The Eclipse Motorsport Fer- box problem. The retirement Huggins Backdraft Motorsport rari run by Sean and Micheal of the Mosler gave the lead to Lamborghini saw Gamski on to McInerney with guest driver Gaw in the MJC Ferrari a car the grass. After a cautionary Phil Keen notched up it’s that 24 hours earlier had re- pitstop they rejoined the race second victory of the season tired from qualifying with a in 8th place. at the Donington 4 hour race terminal engine problem. With The closing stages saw Sean despite a first corner shunt only a handfull of engines in McInerney holding the lead in from Calum Lockie’s Mosler the world with the same ecu the Eclipse Ferrari followed by which left the Ferrari’s rear and mapping characteristics the Strata 21 Mosler of White diffuser flapping in the wind. it seemed unlikely MJC would and Lockie. Aaron Scott’s At the end of the first lap be starting the race. However Team GT3 Viper was in third the field was led by pole sit- luck was on their side and it having taken the place from ter Javier Morcillo in the Az- just so happened that Dutch the Race4Slovakia Praga which teca Mosler followed closely Supercar team, Veka Racing, had an extended stop for oil by Dick Kvetnansky in his self had an identical engine in the and brake alignment. McIn- built Praga R4S, more usually back of their truck and after erney finally took the cheq- seen in the Dutch Supercar an evening of negotiation it uered flag having completed Challenge. Aaron Scott’s Vi- was leased to MJC allowing 191 laps and 51.988 seconds per was third and John Gaw, them to start the race. infront of Paul White’s Mosler. enjoying a guest drive in the Gaw finally pitted after 90 Aaron Scott took overall third MJC Ferrari in 4th. Fifth, sixth minutes and handed the car and a class 2 victory in the Vi- and seventh places were filled over to Witt Gamski however per followed by Sedlak in the by Lockie, McInerney and Bob the lead was lost when Gaw Praga. Keith Robinson brought Berridge in the Strata 21 Mos- was deemed to have entered the MJC Ferrari home in 5th ler, Eclipse Ferrari and Aquilla the pits too quickly and the overall, the teams troubles CR1 respectively. team was handed a 2 lap pen- compounded by missing the fi- The Azteca Mosler held the alty. This gave the lead to the nal fuel stop window resulting lead for 70 minutes pulling Eclipse Ferrari and things got in Robinson having to cruise out a gap of over 50 seconds worse for the MJC team when around the final laps to the before retiring with a gear- contact at Redgate with Neil finish line.

Photo: Jurek Biegus

ADAC GT Masters Audis on top at Sachsenring Sachsenring, Round 2, May 15 By Sam Tickell The ADAC GT Masters sup- notably with a Mercedes SLS ing ahead of Christer Jons and ported the GT1 World Cham- rolling. With driver Robert Re- Jens Klingmann. The Phoenix pionship at the Sachsenring nauer not wanting to use the ex- Audi of and earlier this month in what plosives of the gullwing doors, Andreas Simonson won race 2 turned out to be a crash fest he was trapped for a small teammates Rene Rast and Ste- weekend. time. Abt Sportsline scored a fan Landmann. The Abt Audis Throughout the weekend nu- 1-2 in race 1 with Luca Ludwig finished third and fourth creat- merous wrecks occurred, most and Christopher Miels finish- ing a 1-2-3-4 for Audi. Photos: ADAC GT Photo: SPEEDEuroSeries.com upn edn of h Por the and off fending Kumpen Wauters SLS with race Mercedes horse two a into track in support of the WTCC. Belcar featured at the Zolder Zolder, Belgium,Rounds 2, April 9-10By profits enjoy kumpen-y Mercedes BELCAR team withdrew from the rest WFR The process. peration has already started the recu suf but vertebrae He cracked fered barrier. the over launched and Rouge Eau ter af airborne got WFR03 his crash in Brit The Foster. massive Joey for a by nated domi- was Spa at weekend race Euroseries SPEED The Spa Francorchamps,Belgium,Rounds 3and4,May6-7By resumed service Norma Series Euro Speed h to or ae turned race hour two The - - - - fighting off another Audi in Audi another off fighting Maassen and Longin podi- with um the up wrapped then LMS R8 Audi seconds. seven Goossens and Soluet to win by just over of GT3R 997 sche hlpe azboc and Damien Toulemonde.Pegasus Haezebrouck of Philippe ahead sec 0.3 just fin- ished Vilariño) manna/Ander La (Franck Racing racing TFT the with of tightness the defies however This, races. inboth two and one finished chassis Norma and victories of theweekend. F Rcn to bt race both took Racing TFT Sam Tickell Sam Tickell - this seriesin thelastissue. 997 Cupcar. the Derdaeleduo in a Porsche was runner GTO leading The Ide. and Verbist on form the finished third. Matthew Ligier Racing IF the in Draper and Stirling Dean of ahead Toulemonde.and Hezebrouck seconds eight 2 race in victors the were more ished third22secondsdown. fin- Ligier their in Schell/David Caussanel) (Julian Racing e plgs fr missing for apologise We en io ad ik Pad- Nick and Rihon Jean Australian GT Not so Steady Eddy Winton, Australia, Round 2, May 20-22 By Sam Tickell

Mark Eddy won his first race was won with some great pro, is what we should do at in his Audi in the opening tactics and passing on track. every round.” race of the Australian GT Grant had started the race on The Challenge class was Championship at Round 2 in old tyres from the mid pack. taken by Lindsay Yelland for Winton. The 2008 Champ When Gaunt received new both races. The rookie driver changed to the Audi R8 LMS tyres and a favourable safety raced a Ginetta G50HC, which last year and was able to run car, he fought to the lead and was late to the circuit. A spin away with race 1 from Klark to victory. in qualifying did nothing to Quinn and Tony Quinn. “The racing in that last 15 assist his cause either but he Race two did not go Eddy’s minutes was sensational. To worked his way through the way as Daniel Gaunt/Dean me it showed that format, pack to score class victories Grant won the one hour race. which is what they use in Eu- and a top 10 outright in race The two-driver option event rope, with a privateer and a 2.

Vdev Howling success for wolf Le Mans, France, Rounds 1 & 2 May 1st By Sam Tickell

The VdeV Championships won in the end. starters made the flag despite raced at Le Mans’ Bugatti cir- The Funyo Challenge went safety car interludes. cuit with Wolf finding their the way of Championship The Historic Challenge saw first success for the year. leader Marc-Antoine Dannie- a large grid turn up to race Olivier Porta and Damien De- lou, who won from Nicolas on part of the historic cir- lafosse dominated the Proto- Cannard. The three short cuit that so many of the cars type race to win by over 40 races were dominated by the made their names. Jean-Marc seconds from Gregory Far- duo who now have the pack Luco led in his Ligier JS3 for gier’s Norma. chasing for the title. two hours before a wheel While the race at the front The GT race was marred came off his car and he spun may not have been thrilling, with safety car periods – into retirement. Consequent- the Open class – for older cars something that IMSA Per- ly, the Allemang family’s Ford – produced great racing. The foramnce and their drivers Falcon n°62 took the lead Portuguese De Mello-Breyner Xavier Pompidou and Gabriel until a puncture ended their brothers and Adrien Havette/ Abergel were able to use to run for victory.. Kriknoff then Vincent Capillaire both looked their advantage. The Porshce looked set for the win but good for the win but mechani- drivers always had the field in Philippe Hottinguer in Porsche cal issues and an accident check throughout the event n°51 thought otherwise and meant that Scotsman Bryce and always pulled away at passed Kriknoff with two laps Wilson and Massimo Vignali the restarts. 29 out of the 35 to go for the win.

Follow us on Twitter @lendurancelive GT4 Lotus victorious in holland Zandvoort, Holland, Round 1, April 25 By Sam Tickell The GT4 European Cup got let Corvette C6. nally taking second with just underway at the Dutch Zand- D’Aste led from the front three laps to go. Bleekemo- voort circuit. and took care of his tyres on len sensed victory as D’Aste’s It was a winning start for what was a very hot track Lotus started to overheat but the Lotus Evora GT4 as Italian and led to the pit stop cycle. the Italian was able to hold Stefano D’Aste took the vic- After the stops were com- on. tory, just a second ahead of pleted he remained in front Dennis Retera and Jan Joris Peter van der Kolk and Jeroen with Bleekemolen fighting Verheul, in a Aston Martin Bleekemolen in their Chevro- his way through the pack, fi- Vantage GT4 finished third.

GT OPen Vittoria Take Italian Victory Imola, Italy, Rounds 1 & 2, April 30th - May 1st By Sam Tickell The International GT Open conditions but the drivers pair, who only put their cam- got underway at Imola on were well behaved. Marco paign together a couple of April 30-May 1. Vittoria Com- Frezza took the lead on lap weeks before the season, petizioni (Ferrari 430) took 6 and co-driver José Manuel led early and dominated the the first win of the season López would keep it through- race. Lorenzo Bontempelli with Autorlando Sport (Por- out the race. and Stefano Gattuso won GTS sche 911 R) taking the GTS The second race was taken win their Ferrari 430. Kessel win and fourth overall. by Álvaro Barba and Andrea Racing won the class, despite Due to a pre race shower, Ceccato, in the Autorlando losing three (!) cars in qualify- the race started under wet Sport Porsche 911 RSR. The ing to accidents.

VLN ferrari take historic vln win Nurburgring, Germany, Rounds 1 & 2, April 30th - May 1st By Dan Bathie

The Hankook Farnbacher RSR of Marc Lieb, Timo Bern- away for ignoring yellow flags, Team claimed a historic first hard and Arno Klasen after six which left the Hankook Fer- victory for Ferrari, in the hours of racing. rari one of the only lead cars VLN series around the fear- The race order however not to. Third place went to some Nordschleife. could have been very differ- the BMW of Pedro Lamy, Jörg Jamie Melo and Marco See- ent. The Manthey team along Müller and an- fried crossed the line in their with nineteen other cars other which received the lap 458 just eight tenths ahead which included the top ten penalty. of the Manthey Porsche 997 at the time, had a lap taken

more photos, more live coverage. keep up with all the latest from the l'endurance team Photo: FFSA conditions, handing the car to wet the bettering one race in start the from led Bornhauser weekend. the of races won both duo Larbre The Dijon. at GT FFSA the in ceedings pro- dominated Groppi rent Lau and Bornhauser Patrick Dijon, France,Rounds 3and4,May6-7By double the do LArbre GT tour - ae Dvd aldy and Halliday David Championship race. the in lie fourth now pair The lose. not would Bornhauser something – change driver the after lead car Larbre the 1 race in like Groppi whowentontowin. Groppi started race two and Sam Tickell Larbre (herethird)triumphedinGt Tour the tires,” said Groppi. manage to had he 2, Race In race. real a was Viper,it the with traffic the in and I drive, ny Beltoiseaftersolid runs. and PasqualiLawrence Antho on in closed Ortelli Stephane Te a ws ey od to good very was car “The -