GT Open: Series Spa race two report

Lietz-Roda Underscore Porsche's double Win In Spa

In another closely-fought and exciting race in Spa-Francorchamps, Richard Lietz and Gianluca Roda confirmed Porsche's superiority in the Ardennes, signing a double victory for Stuttgart's 997 and claiming their second win in the season and reinforcing their leadership in the overall standings. Autorlando Sport also placed its second car, driven by Manuel Gião-Pedro Couceiro, on the podium, in third.

Trottet Ferrari of Marcel Fassler-Joel Camathias came a very close second and was the best of the Prancing Horse machines, keeping open all its options in the fight for the title.

The GTS race was extremely lively, with the Aston Martins of Villois Racing taking a superb double win with Max Wiser-Gabriele Lancieri and Marco Petrini-Paolo Necchi, in a very lively finale, which saw class leaders Peter-Broniszewski (Kessel Ferrari) take a useful third despite the heavy time handicap they had today.

The International GT Open is heading almost straight away to Donington Park, where the fourth round of the season will take place next week-end.

At the start, Pilet takes the advantage over poleman Lietz, Cioci, Fassler, Gião, Ricci Griffin and Cadei, first in GTS with the Kessel Ferrari. Soon starts a close battle between the two leading Porsches, with Lietz overtaking Pilet at Les Combes in lap 4, while Cioci is an excellent third, managing to keep Fassler behind him, and Piccini passes Cadei for first in GTS and 11th overall.

In lap 7, a small mistake by Cioci at the bus stop opens the door to both Fassler and Griffin, who can start chasing Pilet, who is now six seconds behind leader Lietz. Alexander stops with a broken shaft while Frezza and Balandras collide (the Italian will get a drive-through) and Ricci punctures a tyre.

After the driver change, Roda has an advantage of 17 seconds on Bamford, Perazzini, Narac, Couceiro, Kralev, Bonetti and Geri, who leads in GTS. Camathias and Couceiro will soon be in second and third position, with the Swiss getting closer and closer to the leader. Nevertheless, Roda keeps everything under control and takes the flag as the winner. The last laps are dominated by the beautiful battle in GTS with the Astons of Lancieri and Petrini catching and passing the Corvette of Geri and starting to fight between them. But it's Lancieri taking the win while Geri has to leave also third place to the Kessel Ferrari of class leader Peter.

-credit: gto