FOURTH WIN OF 2008 FOR AF CORSE
In GT2, Vilander and Bruni extended their Championship lead with a fourth win of the season in the nr 50 AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT2. They finished ahead of newcomer K plus K Motorsport, whose Porsche was driven by Czech driver Jiri Janak and Tim Bergmeister to a fine second place and a maiden podium. Third place went to BMS Scuderia Italia, with their nr 77 Ferrari 430 GT2 of Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Malucelli, strengthening their second place in the GT2 points after an excellent fight back up the field after going wide to avoid the first corner problems, rejoining at the back of the field.
“My stint was very nice, and the car went well. We’ve been making small adjustments all weekend and that seems to have worked,” Bruni commented. “I don’t mind getting the extra weight back at Nogaro; it’ll get rid of the understeer, which I hate. We’ll see. Every race is a different story.”
GT2 also got off to a busy start, with Bruni getting the advantage at the start when the nr 56 CR Scuderia was caught up in the start problems. He pulled away, followed by the nr 55 CR Scuderia car, the nr 61 Prospeed Porsche and the nr 79 K plus K Motorsport Porsche. However, while Mullen and Collard were fighting, Janak and Russo, in the nr 95 Advanced Engineering Pecom Ferrari, slipped through to take second and third, with the nr 79 car taking the lead when Bruni made his first stop. At the start of the second hour, the nr 61 Prospeed Porsche retired with engine problems. This left the nr 79 K plus K car second, with BMS Scuderia ‘s nr 77 Ferrari third, which remained the order until the end.
The nr 51 AF Corse Ferrari, which had suffered mechanical problems in qualifying and started from near the back of the grid, put in a fine performance to climb back up to fourth, finishing ahead of the nr 60 Prospeed Competition Porsche of Forsten and Paltalla, the Finnish duo claiming their best result of the season. Sixth went to the nr 95 Advanced Engineering Pecom Racing Team Ferrari of Russo and Perez-Companc, ahead of the Kessel Racing Ferrari of Del Monte and Moser, and the Scuderia Ecosse car of Davies and Babini.
AF CORSE CLOSING ON THEIR GOAL
With a third consecutive Teams title in their sights, AF Corse moved a step closer today, with a win and a fourth place for their two Ferrari 430 GT2 cars. They now have 104 points, 43 more than their nearest rivals BMS Scuderia Italia, and with just 54 points still available in the Teams classification. BMS are followed by CR Scuderia, who failed to score today, and Prospeed Competition.
Updated 15.9.2008