Race 1, Dolby,Enge (Wessex Gallardo) winBiagi-Creastani (Lazarus Huracán) extend points lead
Winning debut for Wessex Motorsport and its stellar pair after lively race
The Orange1 Team Lazarus pair, 2nd, reinforces leadership Ramos-Schothorst take 3rd with the Teo Martín BMW
British win also in GT-Am with McNeilly-Stanley (FF Corse Ferrari)
In a warm afternoon, the Sant’Agata bulls conquered Silverstone. Wessex Motorsport signed a perfect debut in the GT Open taking a superb win in a Race 1 that had a very lively and entertaining second part. Thanks to an excellent strategy, the Lambo Gallardo REX driven by Craig Dolby and Tomas Enge emerged as the winner in an exciting finale, beating the Orange1 Team Lazarus Lamborghini Huracán of Thomas Biagi and Fabrizio Crestani. The Italian duo celebrated the result almost as a victory as it strengthens their leadership in the championship. Third was the Teo Martín BMW M6 of Miguel Ramos and his new team mate Pieter Schothorst.
The Union Jack waved also on the GT-Am podium as the FF Corse Ferrari 488 of Paul McNeilly and Jamie Stanley took its maiden win ahead of the Sports&You Mercedes of Sardinha-Da Costa and the V8 Racing Renault RS01 of Barreiros-Short.
THE RACE - Perfect start for Ledogar from the pole (the third in three appearances for the young Frenchman), challenged by Dolby, who goes wide at Copse and has to let Yacamán and Keen go past. Biagi is fifth ahead of Ramos, while at the back Noble and Yoluc get in contact, both spinning.
In the lead, Ledogar pulls away at a pace of one second per lap. There is a close fight for second between Yacamán, Keen and Dolby, with the McLaren passing the BMW in lap 6; shortly before, Yoluc took over Barreiros for P11, in another great duel. The Turk is chasing hard after the initial set-back and passes also McNeilly and Benham.
By lap 11, Dolby is attacking fiercely Yacamán, and goes through one lap later. The Radical of Noble stops in the straight. Biagi, Ramos, Yoluc, Benham and McNeilly are the first to stop for driver change (lap 14). In lap 20, Ledogar and Da Costa are the last ones to come in.
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Once all driver changes are done, West leads with 5 seconds over Balfe and 15 on Enge, with Schothorst, Crestani and Monje further away and Sardinha in P7 and leading in GT Am.
Balfe gets under the tail of West, who resists but both get catch by Enge and Schothorst, with the Czech passing the two McLarens and taking the lead in lap 25. Also Crestani joins the group and actually passes the BMW to take fourth and shortly after, the Italian pips both McLarens to take second. Schothorst does the same and in the heat of the action, West spins, rejoining 10th.
It’s a lively end of the race but Crestani can’t catch the leading Gallardo which takes the flag as winner, while Hankey steals fourth from Balfe in the closing laps. In the meantime, Stanley had passed the Mercedes to give FF Corse a maiden GT-Am win.
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 7 OF 14
Overall: 1. Crestani-Biagi, 86 points; 2. Keen-Balfe, 66 points; 3. Ramos, 65; 4. Rodriguez, 51; 5. Benham-
Tappy, 46; ; 6. Yacamán-Monje, 44; etc
Pro-Am: 1. Crestani-Biagi, 36 points; 2. Ramos, 26; 3. Keen-Balfe, 25; 4. Rodriguez, 20; 5. Tappy-Benham, Pastorelli-Webster, Cioci, 18; etc
GT-Am: 1. Sardinha Silva-Da Costa Coimbra, 25 points; 2. Barreiros, 24; 3. Lémeret, 23; 4. Sdanewitsch, 16; 5. Braams, 15; etc
Teams: 1. BMW Teo Martín, 42; 2. Orange1 Team Lazarus, 36; 3. Garage59, 31; 4. Balfe Motorsport, 25; 5. AF
Corse, 24; etc
