From GT1 World
Matech Competition Ford GT pairing Romain Grosjean and Thomas Mutsch completed a comprehensive victory in the first-ever Championship Race of the FIA GT1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Mutsch withstood a strong charge in the early stages of the one-hour race from Andrea Bertolini in the Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati before handing over to Grosjean.
The Swiss youngster stretched the legs of the impressive Ford GT to take the chequered flag ahead of Qualifying Race winners Andreas Zuber and Marc Hennerici in the Phoenix Racing/Carsport Corvette.
Andrea Piccini and Mike Hezemans took the final podium place in the sister car from the back of the grid to round out a successful weekend for Corvette. Grosjean and Mutsch's victory means they sit on top of the driver standings with 31 points when the tally from both the Qualifying and Championship Races are added together.
Second overall is Zuber and Hennerici with 26 and the Vitaphone Maserati pair Michael Bartells and Bertolini third on 16. In the battle of the brands, the Phoenix Corvette team lead the way with 41 points from the Matech Ford on 31 and and Vitaphone Maserati with 24.
Starting from pole position, Mutsch drove the first stint and led the first half of the race from Bertolini. As with the Qualifying Race, the racing was intense under the bright lights of the Yas Marina circuit.
Following the driver switch at the half-hour mark, Grosjean reeled off a series of lap times which were two seconds quicker than his nearest challenger to win by 20 seconds.
Abu Dhabi – Championship race classification:
1. Grosjean/Mutsch (Matech Ford) 1h01’14’’892
2. Zuber/Hennerici (Phoenix Corvette) +23’’061
3. Hezemans/Piccini (Phoenix Corvette) +26’’485
4. Bertolini/Bartels (Vitaphone Maserati) +34’’075
5. Zonta/Daniel (Reiter Lamborghini) +49’’496
6. Ramos/Bernoldi ( Vitaphone Maserati) +53’’059
7. Bobbi/Longin (Triple H Maserati) +1’00’’565
8. Haase/Kox (Reiter Lamborghini ) +1’12’’694
9. Margaritis/Heger ( Triple H Maserati) +1’24’’473
10. Müller/Maassen (Mad Croc Corvette) + 1’26’’254
Etc.
Championship:
1. Grosjean & Mutsch 31 pts, 2. Zuber & Henerici 26, 3. Bertolini & Bartels 16, 4. Picini & Hezemans 15, 5. Zonta & Daniel 10, etc.
Matech Competition Ford GT pairing Romain Grosjean and Thomas Mutsch completed a comprehensive victory in the first-ever Championship Race of the FIA GT1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Mutsch withstood a strong charge in the early stages of the one-hour race from Andrea Bertolini in the Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati before handing over to Grosjean.
The Swiss youngster stretched the legs of the impressive Ford GT to take the chequered flag ahead of Qualifying Race winners Andreas Zuber and Marc Hennerici in the Phoenix Racing/Carsport Corvette.
Andrea Piccini and Mike Hezemans took the final podium place in the sister car from the back of the grid to round out a successful weekend for Corvette. Grosjean and Mutsch's victory means they sit on top of the driver standings with 31 points when the tally from both the Qualifying and Championship Races are added together.
Second overall is Zuber and Hennerici with 26 and the Vitaphone Maserati pair Michael Bartells and Bertolini third on 16. In the battle of the brands, the Phoenix Corvette team lead the way with 41 points from the Matech Ford on 31 and and Vitaphone Maserati with 24.
Starting from pole position, Mutsch drove the first stint and led the first half of the race from Bertolini. As with the Qualifying Race, the racing was intense under the bright lights of the Yas Marina circuit.
Following the driver switch at the half-hour mark, Grosjean reeled off a series of lap times which were two seconds quicker than his nearest challenger to win by 20 seconds.
Abu Dhabi – Championship race classification:
1. Grosjean/Mutsch (Matech Ford) 1h01’14’’892
2. Zuber/Hennerici (Phoenix Corvette) +23’’061
3. Hezemans/Piccini (Phoenix Corvette) +26’’485
4. Bertolini/Bartels (Vitaphone Maserati) +34’’075
5. Zonta/Daniel (Reiter Lamborghini) +49’’496
6. Ramos/Bernoldi ( Vitaphone Maserati) +53’’059
7. Bobbi/Longin (Triple H Maserati) +1’00’’565
8. Haase/Kox (Reiter Lamborghini ) +1’12’’694
9. Margaritis/Heger ( Triple H Maserati) +1’24’’473
10. Müller/Maassen (Mad Croc Corvette) + 1’26’’254
Etc.
Championship:
1. Grosjean & Mutsch 31 pts, 2. Zuber & Henerici 26, 3. Bertolini & Bartels 16, 4. Picini & Hezemans 15, 5. Zonta & Daniel 10, etc.