in another thrilling finale at the Ricard
After much bad luck, the Italian outfit benefits from penultimate lap drama, asBenham’s leading McLaren spins and his hit by Yoluc’s AstonYacaman-Monje (Teo Martin BMW) second ahead of the TF Sport AstonCrestani-Biagi also become new points leadersThird win of the season in GT-Am for Barreiros-Braams (V8 Renault)
Thomas Biagi and Fabrizio Crestani gave their first win of the year to Lamborghini and the Orange1 Team Lazarus in another action-packed race at the Ricard. It’s the maiden win in the GT Open for the Italian pair and outfit, who benefitted from penultimate lap drama, when Michael Benham, then in the lead with the Garage59 McLaren, went wide and was hit by the Aston of Salih Yoluc. Crestani, who was charging back on to the two, inherited the success, after yesterday’s bad luck, ahead of the Teo Martin BMW of Yacamán-Monje, while Yoluc-Hankey salvaged third for the TF Sport Aston. Crestani-Biagi rounded their day by becoming the new points leaders in the championship.
In GT-Am, Filipe Barreiros-Max Braams took their third win of the season with the V8 Racing Renault RS01, ahead of Lémeret-Dhillon (AF Ferrari) and the Petri Lambo of Davide Roda.
THE RACE - Poleman Tappy keeps the advantage at the start, ahead of a pressing Cioci,
Hankey, Caldarelli, Rodríguez, Monje, Keen, Biagi and Babini. The two BMWs pass Caldarelli but the group up to 8th place is extremely compact and in great fight. Very close are also the cars of the leading trio. At the beginning of lap 4, Monje passes Rodríguez, who loses four more positions, presumably for some technical reason.
At the end of lap 8, there is a first attack from Cioci to Tappy at the last chicane, there is also contact but things don’t change. Soon after, Silva spins in turn 12. Braams is now 8th, after passing Biagi, and first among GT-Am ahead of Lémeret. At the end of lap 11, the efforts of Cioci paid off, with the Italian taking the lead from Tappy, while first pit stops had started. Two laps later, at the same last chicane, Monje passes Babini from the outside but there is intense rubbing between the two cars.
After all changes, Perazzini leads by 2 seconds on Benham and Yoluc, with Balfe, Yacaman, Busnelli, Liuzzi and Crestani much further away. Both Benham and Yoluc pass Perazzini one lap later. Bad luck for the Audi of Alvarez, who stops with a punctured tire.
While Benham seems to keep Yoluc at bay, it’s Crestani charging from the back that puts the show. The Italian is third 15 minutes from the end, ahead of Yacamán, Perazzini, Ledogar, Balfe and Liuzzi.
A new big battle is foreseen for the last laps but it won’t happen, as in the penultimate round, Benham goes wide and the McLaren is collected by the Aston of Yoluc. Crestani flies to victory ahead of Yacaman, while Yoluc salvages third, ahead of Perazzini and Ledogar. In GT-Am, Barreiros wins ahed of Dhillon and Roda.
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6 OF 14
Overall: 1. Crestani-Biagi, 68 points; 2. Keen-Balfe, 58 points; 3. Ramos-Rodriguez, 51; 4. Benham-Tappy, 44; ; 5. Cioci, 43; etc
Pro-Am: 1. Crestani-Biagi, 28; 2. Keen-Balfe, 22 points; 3. Rodriguez-Ramos, 51; 4. Tappy-Benham, Pastorelli-Webster, Cioci, 18; etc
GT-Am: 1. Lémeret, 23; 2. Barreiros, Silva-Coimbra, 21; 4. Sdanewitsch, 16; 5. Braams, 15; etc
Teams: 1. BMW Teo Martín, 36; 2. Garage59, 31; 3. Orange1 Team Lazarus, 28; 4. AF Corse, 24; 5. Balfe
Motorsport, 22; etc
