The Ferraris were back en force for this last round of the GT Cup Europe and took victory in Race 1, with young sensation Johnny Kaminskey in a AF Corse 296. The reigning champion of the Ferrari Challenge North America took the lead with a brilliant move after a safety car period beating the FAEMS Team by Ebimotors Porsche of Pietro Delli Guanti-Matteo Luvisi. “It’s all new to me, but I am enjoying greatly this first European experience”, said Kaminskey.
Delli Guanti and Luvisi took the point of the win, as one-off contenders in the last round do not score nor block points. This is particularly important, as the Italian pair reduced to 10 points their gap on Jurriaan De Back-Paul Meijer. The championship leaders crossed the line in second, were demoted to fourth by a 5-second penalty following a track cut in lap 1, and eventually scored the points of a P2.
US racer Mitchell Green (Pellin Racing) put another Ferrari on the overall podium, in third position and took the win in Am, ahead of Wijs-Van Zijverden (HWM) and Schömer-Gagliardini (AF Corse Ferrari). Ahead of tomorrow’s decisive race, the Dutchmen are three net points ahead of Svepes-Martins (50), with Giubergia-Mello at 46 and Navarrete-Pedrera at 45, keeping though alive a 4-way battle.
In Pro-Am, victory for local heroes Pepe Oriola-Rubén Fernández, in the Goat Racing Ferrari, ahead of the EST 1 Porsche of Keijo Kaasik and Alex Reimann and Scannicchio-Babini, who take the points of the win. With regards to the title battle, Barambio-García (GT Corse) go to the final race with and advantage of 1 net point on Salubre (HWM).
THE RACE – At the start, poleman Delli Guanti kicks off well but he is passed at first corner by Oriola and Meijer, with the Dutchman taking the lead shortly after. Still, both Oriola and Meijer get under investigation.
In the initial phases, Meijer leads ahead of Oriola, Delli Guanti, Garcia, Tremoulet, Stifter, Svepes, and Kamiskey, who has passed Gen. First lap action sees Pedrera touched and stop in the pits with damage to the front.
As the race progresses, Meijer increases his lead up to 11 seconds ahead of the pit stop in lap 12. Delli Guanti, Garcia, Tremoulet, Stifter and Svepes are right behind, in a very compact group. Leonov spins in lap 11 after a contact with Longoni.
After all changes, in lap 16, De Back leads with 10 seconds on Jouffret and Kamiskey, and 18 on Luvisi. Follow Martins, Green, Wijs an Fernández, but action is short-lived, as the safety car is called to allow rescuing the car of Galli, who has spun alone into the sand trap.
With all gaps wiped out, the restart in lap 20 is crucial. De Back keeps the advantage but he is challenged by Kamiskey, while Luvisi takes third from Jouffret. One lap later at the Estadi corner, Kamiskey takes the lead.
Things will not change in the closing lap, except for the 5-second penalty inflicted to the #7 car, with De Back dropping to fourth behind Kaminskey, Luvisi and Green, who wins in Am. In Pro-Am, success for Fernández, ahead of Reimann and Babini.