GT Open: Porsche double opens up title race

Porsche celebrated a double International GT Open victory at Magny-Cours last weekend courtesy of IMSA Performance Matmut and Autorlando Sport.

Kessel Racing meanwhile narrowed the gap at the top of the GTS drivers’ championship to two points after victory in the opener, although the Luxury Racing Ferrari did win the second. 

Race 1:

After a dismal display at Spa last time out, IMSA Performance were back on the pace on home turf in France where Patrick Pilet and Raymond Narac secured a well-deserved victory in race one.
 

Championship leaders AF Corse led away from the start and maintained their advantage from Raffaele Giammaria after a brief Safety Car period two laps in.

An incredible performance by Marco Frezza ensured that the Kessel Racing GTS class Ferrari moved up to third in the early stages after passing Jean-Philippe Dayraut whose race would end in the gravel soon after.

It wasn’t long before the chasing group of GT class cars, headed by Narac, were able to make their extra horsepower count with Tim Mullen and Matt Griffin jumping up to fourth and fifth behind the IMSA Porsche.

Slightly further back the battle for seventh was equally intense with Gianluca Roda, Stefano Livio, Gabriele Lancieri, Jordi Gené and Thomas Gruber running nose-to-tail. Indeed, it was hardly surprising to see the Sunred Judd hit the Armco after an attempted move on the Autorlando Porsche for which Gene would later incur a drive-through penalty.

Alvaro Barba’s lead had grown to 8 seconds over Giammaria by the time the pit window opened, only for Pierre Kaffer to end up down in fourth thanks to the team’s success handicap.

It was Enrico Toccacelo who therefore found himself in the lead once the stops had shaken out, although Pilet was past and into the lead only a lap later.

Both Kaffer and Richard Lietz managed to pass Chris Niarchos before the finish to claim third and fourth with Jack Gerber in sixth ahead of leading GTS contender Pedro Couceiro.    

Race 2:   
Porsche completed its clean sweep of weekend victories in race two courtesy of Lietz and Roda’s first triumph of the season.
 

Lietz started on pole and duly stayed there ahead of Pilet, Kaffer, Andrew Kirkaldy, Toccacelo and GTS’ leading contender Alex Mortimer.

Niarchos’ afternoon didn’t last long due to a damaged front end while CRS team mate Kirkaldy was soon overtaken by Toccacelo who was able to run comfortably with the top four thereafter.

Roda climbed aboard his Porsche still leading and that, coupled with less handicap at his stop compared to other leading contenders, ensured he rejoined 15 second clear of Narac and half a minute ahead of Barba, Giammaria and Max Wiser.

And that’s how the top three would remain with Toccacelo taking advantage of spins and retirements ahead of him to climb back up to fourth after his stop.

GTS witnessed a thrilling climax though with Dayraut passing both Gruber and Anthony Bamford’s Ford GT on lap 25 to claim victory and championship top spot.

Catch live International GT Open coverage on Motors TV throughout 2010.

Tom Hornsby