GTO: Series Spa preview

Porsches To Challenge Ferraris In Legendary Spa

Five weeks after Imola, action is resuming for the International GT Open. The acclaimed continental GT2 and GT3 series is heading to one of the hot spots of the yearly calendar, Spa-Francorchamps. The legendary track in the Belgian Ardennes is not only one of the best circuits for GT racing, it is also one of the preferred one by drivers and fans. No surprise then that the Belgian rendez- vous is always attracting an excellent entry, which will reach 35 cars this year, according to the entry list published today.

The GT Open community will gather again sharing a sense of relief, as latest news on Marcel Tiemann's conditions are definitely encouraging. Phoenix Racing's German ace was severely injured in an accident at the start of Race 2 in Imola, but he is now out of danger and recovering progressively in the University Hospital of Munich-Grosshadern. Very understandably, Phoenix Racing has not yet confirmed his presence Spa-Francorchamps, but everybody is wishing Marcel a full recovery and hoping to see the German squad back in the tracks as soon as possible.

On the sports side, Spa will be an important round to see if championship leaders, Alvaro Barba and Pierre Kaffer, who have won 4 races out of 6 with their AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT2, will be able to strengthen their leading position in the overall standings.

But Ferrari can count also, besides the AF Corse machines (the Italian team is bringing a fourth F430 GT2 for Aguas-Garofano), on two excellent outsiders like the CRS machine of Niarchos-Mullen and the EdilCris one of Giammaria- Toccacelo, both able to fight for victory.

In the GTS class, it will be again a close duel between the leading Luxury Racing Ferrari, the Kessel Racing Ferraris, the Autorlando Porsche GT3 and the Villois Racing Aston Martins. Luxury Ferrari is coming to Belgium with three Ferraris F430, two of which entrusted to all-French new pairs, Demay-Rouget and Lorgère Roux-Rodrigues, while Jean-Philippe Dayraut will most probably be assisted this time by French GT ace Frederic Makowiecki.

Among new entries, a name sticks out without no question: Manthey Racing, the stalwart German GT team, known for its many successes in the 24 Hours of Nuerburgring, its making its first appearance in the GT Open, with a Porsche GT3 entrusted to Marc Lieb, an LMS GT2 champion and recent co-winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and "Mark Bullitt".

Some GT Open past GTS participants are also back: it is the case of the De Lorenzi Porsche (De Lorenzi-Borghi), the Scuderia 22 Corvette which won the GTS title in 2008, the Vodafone Aston Martin of Portuguese pair Coimbra-Silva and the Rollcentre Mosler GT3 of Martin Short, while new in the blocks is the Dodge Viper of German team Vulcan-Mintgen.

The GT International GT Open event will share the limelight with the competitive and exciting European F3 Open, which is holding its third round of the season, the Auto GP and other series in the framework of the traditional and prestigious Spa Euro Race meeting.

All the action from Spa can be followed by fans via the live broadcasts in Italy (Nuvolari), Spain (Canal + Deportes; Intereconomia), Portugal (Sport TV) and Poland (nSport) and the extensive delayed coverage ensured in 50 countries by Motors TV (with the Race 1 live and the Race 2 slightly delayed at 20:00 CET on Sunday), and by Fox Sports and ESPN in Central and South America.

-source: gtsport.es