6H Spa: LMGTE news round up

AF Corse (LMGTE Pro and Am)

Ferrari and AF Corse ruled from start to finish. Gimmi Bruni and Toni Vilander – starting from the pole position – in their 458 Italia #51 left their rivals in no doubt in the battle for LMGTE Pro honours. Bruni-Vilander had no problem keeping his pursuers at bay, led for a long time by the other AF Corse 458 Italia GT2 (#71), in the hands of the young crew of James Calado and Davide Rigon. Until the final 25 minutes of the race it looked as though AF Corse would be able to celebrate a 1-2 finish, but a hard-charging Patrick Pilet in the No.91 Porsche Team Manthey 911 RSR passed the No.71 AF Corse Ferrari for second place.

Great victory for Luis Perez Companc, Marco Cioci and Mirko Venturi in the Ferrari 458 Italia #61. The trio was always a strong contender for victory and started the race from the class pole position and led for nearly the entire race. In fifth place of category, Steve Wyatt, Andrea Bertolini and Michele Rugolo in their Ferrari 458 Italia #81. Peter Mann, Lorenzo Casè and Raffaele Giammaria were seventh (Ferrari 458 Italia #60). Eight position for the 8 Star Motorsport Ferrari 458 Italia #90 driven by Enzo Potolicchio, Gianluca Roda and Paolo Ruberti. The race of this car was affected by misfortune with two technical problems had to waste time at the squad. The trio has great potential but so far has not collected as it deserves.

For more information from AF Corse, click HERE

Porsche Team Manthey

After a successful start to the season with a double victory at Silverstone, Porsche scored second place in the GTE-Pro class at the six-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps, round two of the sports car World Endurance Championship (WEC). With the Porsche 911 RSR, which is based on the iconic 911 sports car, works drivers Joerg Bergmeister (Germany) and Patrick Pilet (France) repeated their result from the season-opener after a remarkable charge in the final phase of the race. Their factory pilot colleagues and Silverstone winners Marco Holzer (Germany) and Frédéric Makowiecki (France) brought the second 911 RSR fielded by Porsche Team Manthey over the finish line in sixth place.

The full release can be found with further information on Porsche Motorsport by clicking HERE

Aston Martin Racing (LMGTE Pro and Am)

Aston Martin Racing has finished in second and third in the GTE Am class at the second round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) – the Six Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – with its #98 NorthWest Vantage GTE and #95 Young Driver Vantage GTE, respectively.

Despite a difficult qualifying session, the #95 with Richie Stanaway (NZ) behind the wheel climbed from eighth to first within the first hour of the race. Hot on his heels, Pedro Lamy in the #98, climbed to second place and the pair extended their lead over the rest of the pack.

For more information on Aston Martin Racing, click HERE

Photos:  SPA FRANCORCHAMPS CIRCUIT (SPA, ARDENNES, BELGIUM), WEC 6 HOURS OF SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, RACE, SATURDAY 03 MAY 2014.