Maranello, 22 July

France’s Paul Ricard HTTT circuit at Le Castellet hosted this weekend’s fifth round of the International GT Open series, with two races that had unpredictable endings, with the results still sub judice. The Aston Martin Vantage of Villois Racing, driven by Matteo Malucelli and Alvaro Barba took the first leg, ahead of the AF Corse Ferrari 458 of Gianmaria Bruni and Federico Leo, but they were then disqualified as an engineer started downloading data from the car while it was still in parc ferme. The team has appealed the decision and the result is therefore pending until the appeal is heard and a decision given. There was twist too in the GTS classification where the two Porsche Autorlando cars that finished first and second were also disqualified as the exhaust baffles were not the correct size. As Autorlando has not appealed, the points they scored yesterday are invalid and therefore the win in Race 1 now goes to the Kessel Racing 458 of Daniel Zampieri and Michael Dalle Stelle who thus increase their lead in the general classification of the class.

Race 2 was equally unpredictable with Andrea Montermini first past the flag in the Villorba Corse Ferrari 458, followed by Marco Holzer in the Manthey Racing Porsche and Gianmaria Bruni in the AF Corse Ferrari. Villorba’s win is also sub judice, given that after the race it was given a 30 second penalty for a race incident, but immediately appealed. In the GTS class, the win went to Matteo Beretta and Marcello Puglisi in the Autorlando Porsche, ahead of the Ombra Racing Ferrari 458 driven by Mario Cordoni and Lorenzo Bontempelli.

The sixth round of the GT Open takes place from 7 to 9 September at the Hungaroring.