FIA GT1 – Paul Ricard Pre Qualifying : Reiter Lamborghini Shining Under the Summer Sun
Well fellow RaceRevo readers, this weekend is the FIA GT1 at Paul Ricard. With summer sun beating down the track, it went underway smoothly with the duo of Reiter Lamborghini topping the timesheet in pre-qualifying.
Ricardo Zonta set the fastest time of the day in the nr25 Reiter Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-SV, registering a best of 2:04.922. Meanwhile his team mate Peter Kox in the nr24 Lamborghini Murcielago was second fastest, with his best lap of 2:05.077.
Andrea Bertolini, in the nr1 Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati MC12, set the third fastest time of 2.05.157 to keep the two Lamborghinis in his sights ahead of tomorrow mornings qualifying session. The top 7 cars in the 80-minute Pre Qualifying session were covered by less than one second.
There are new regulations impacting all four MC12s, The FIA Technical Commission has once again made changes to balance racecar performance by establishing the new minimum weight for Maseratis, raising it to 1255 kg (previously set at 1235). It is an 20 kg increase which will surely affect their performance. Ever since the eve of the Silverstone race and in the name of balance of performance, the Commission had tweaked the minimum weight, adding another 10 kilos and allowing an increase in flange diameter. Despite that, 3rd place is actually a very strong performance!
The session was briefly interrupted when the red flags were show to recover the nr 9 Hexis AMR Aston Martin DB9 which had suffered a multiple puncture. The Young Driver-Aston Martins have to start 30kg heavier “Balance of Performance” than at the previous round at Brno and for the double podium car #7 with Darren Turner and Tomas Enge the situation on the former formula 1 track near the Mediterranean Sea will be even worse, as they have to carry an additional 30kg “success ballast” making it a total of 60kg.
Paul Ricard is said to be one of the places which naturally produces amazing photographic opportunity, and knowing this hurts even more since at this moment being there is not an option for us. However, we expect our friends at FIA GT1 to supply us the eye-candy so that won’t miss anything.
Results:
1 25 GT1 Zonta / Daniel Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S 2:04.922
2 24 GT1 Kox / Haase Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S 2:05.077
3 1 GT1 Bertolini / Bartels Maserati MC12 2:05.157
4 23 GT1 Krumm / Dumbreck Nissan GT – R 2:05.236
5 11 GT1 Hezemans / Maassen Corvette Z06 2:05.562
6 13 GT1 Piccini / Hennerici Corvette Z06 2:05.762
7 5 GT1 Grosjean / Mutsch Ford GT Matech 2:05.869
8 33 GT1 Margaritis / Heger Maserati MC12 2:05.993
9 4 GT1 Ara / Nilsson Nissan GT – R 2:06.047
10 10 GT1 Hirschi / Piccione Aston Martin DB9 2:06.094
11 2 GT1 Bernoldi / Ramos Maserati MC12 2:06.151
12 38 GT1 Schwager / Pastorelli Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S 2:06.196
13 12 GT1 Gavin / Kuismanen Corvette Z06 2:06.700
14 34 GT1 Bobbi / Longin Maserati MC12 2:06.763
15 22 GT1 Hughes / Campbell-Walter Nissan GT – R 2:06.816
16 3 GT1 Wendlinger / Moser Nissan GT – R 2:06.997
17 7 GT1 Turner / Enge Aston Martin DB9 2:06.999
18 8 GT1 Nygaard / Mücke Aston Martin DB9 2:07.228
19 37 GT1 Bouchut / Basseng Lamborghini Murcielago 670 R-S 2:07.341
20 9 GT1 Accary / Makowiecki Aston Martin DB9 2:07.575
21 40 GT1 Leinders / Martin Ford GT 2:07.588
22 6 GT1 Panis / Gachnang Ford GT Matech 2:08.408
23 41 GT1 Kuppens / Palttala Ford GT 2:09.777
Few gimmicks down the road does not hurt! Let the battle begins!
Editorial : Mu’az Zakaria
Image Source : FIA GT1
