GT World Challenge Europe Sprint
Paul Ricard: SRT race report
SRT enjoys a sparkling weekend in Paul Ricard PAUL RICARD, FRANCE. Bert Longin and James Ruffier provided SRT with a second podium in the FIA GT championship. Following on from their victory in Portugal two weeks earlier the SRT Corvette ...
Edited: Oct 8, 2009, 12:32 AM
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SRT enjoys a sparkling weekend in Paul Ricard
PAUL RICARD, FRANCE. Bert Longin and James Ruffier provided SRT with a second podium in the FIA GT championship. Following on from their victory in Portugal two weeks earlier the SRT Corvette C6.R this time around took the chequered flag in third place of this seventh meeting of the 2009 championship. Bert Longin and James Ruffier are now in a strong third place of this highly thought of FIA GT championship. On this same circuit SRT also competed in the eleventh and twelfth race of the French FFSA GT championship, where the Belgian team scored a pole position, a second place and a victory no less. For SRT definitely a brilliant weekend.
In qualifying the SRT Corvette C6.R of Bert Longin and James Ruffier came fourth and best of the Corvettes for this seventh FIA GT race of the season held at Paul Ricard. It was the reigning FIA GT3 champion James Ruffier who drove the qualifying session in front of his home crowd. "I reckon the car will perform perfectly over the long run", the Frenchman confidently commented after the session. "The Corvette is improving by the minute and I really feel on top of the world on this fast circuit. Tomorrow we're going out for a podium spot!"
Ruffier took the start and drove a regular and fast first stint. The Frenchman slotted himself in up front and battled it out defending his third place. After some forty minutes he handed the wheel over to Longin. "I just needed a little time to find my rhythm", the Leuven based driver commented, "seeing I hadn't clocked up enough driving time during the free practice sessions. But after some five laps I regained my confidence and carried on with the good work my French team-mate had put in, who drove brilliantly later on. We kept our sights on that third podium place which was important with a view to the championship."
And SRT did what was asked of it. Once again the team ensured a perfect strategy, carrying out two fast pit stops and Ruffier was back on the track in fourth spot. In the last part of the race the Frenchman still managed to climb up one place, which allowed SRT, with Ruffier and Longin, to climb up on to the podium once again.
"'I'm truly happy", a beaming Ruffier stated at the press conference. "We're back on the podium, and on top of that we're confident, the car is running perfectly and we have retained our third place in the championship. I'm certain that we have an added advantage with Bert's knowledge of Zolder and you can expect to see us battling up front once again."
Longin and Ruffier are presently ranked third in the intermediate championship rankings, a place which they will defend with nail and tooth at Circuit Zolder on 24th and 25th October.
-credit: srt
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