18.05.2004 Bad luck hit the fortunes of JMB Racing last weekend in both the FIA GT race at Hockenheim & the Italian GT encounter at Mugello

Following on from the podium in Magny-Cours, JMB Racing were looking forward to a successful weekend at Hockenheim, in front of their numerous guests.

The sun shone down on the cars for the first free practice session, which was dominated by the nr 17 Ferrari 575 GTC, expertly driven by Karl Wendlinger around the difficult German circuit.

In qualifying, Wendlinger was 3rd, within a tenth of a second of the two front row grabbing Saleen cars, which were as fast as ever, and five-tenths ahead of the nr 1 Ferrari 550 Maranello.

Making a good start, Wendlinger set the fastest race time on his fourth lap, and was able to match the pace set by the two leading Saleens. Second after the nr 4 Saleen retired, the Austrian took the lead of the race on lap 34, during the pit-stops.

Toto Wolff saw the handling of the Ferrari deteriorate during his stint, but it was still in contention for a podium finish. The situation grew worse during Robert Lechner’s stint, and by the end of the race, while he was lying third, he suffered a left rear tyre blow-out, followed by a second a few laps later, which forced it to retire, twelve laps from the chequered flag.

The nr 18 Ferrari suffered a slow puncture at the same point in the race, which removed all hopes of a points finish for the Longin, Khan and Bleiner line-up, a result which would have been well-deserved by all three drivers, considering the fine performance they had given until then.

Once more reaching the finish line after a consistent race, the nr 19 575 GTC driven by Kutemann, Gosse and Daoudi saw Peter Kutemann complete a double stint, as if to make up the time lost when he missed the Valencia round, his performance was all the more commendable considering the Hockenheim circuit, which is both physically and technically challenging, especially in terms of controlling a 600bhp GT car.

Although it is obvious that the Ferrari 575 GTC now has the potential to play a leading role, the team has to still to work hard to perfect its knowledge and understanding of the car, in order to get the most out of it.

A minor problem deprived JMB Racing of a second consecutive podium. However, the two days of testing planned for the Castellet circuit should allow the team to face the next FIA GT round in Brno, on May 30th, with confidence.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo Case and Domenico Guagliardo were back behind the wheel of the Ferrari 550 Maranello at Mugello last weekend, for the 4th round of the Italian GT Championship.

Choosing to work for the race, JMB Racing opted to qualify on hard tyres, unlike their main rivals.

In the first session, Lorenzo Case was unfortunately sent to the back of the grid, due to a front blade that was too low to satisfy the scrutineers. This was caused by a rod, broken after bumping over a kerb, which was discovered too late to appeal. Despite this, as soon as the race got underway, Lorenzo set off in style, climbing up the grid to 7th position.

Rejoining in 6th place after the pitstops, and less than a minute behind the leader, Domenico continued to take the nr 4 Ferrari towards the front, for a thrilling final.

Two laps from the finish, Domenico was third, just behind the nr 1 Chrysler Viper, with both cars closing on the leader, who had slowed drastically by this stage of the race. On the last lap, while it was getting ready to overtake the leading Lister, the Viper spun and beached itself in the gravel trap, forcing the Ferrari to take avoiding action off-track, which let the Lister head for victory, ahead of the JMB Ferrari, which finished second.

During the second qualifying session, Domenico Guagliardo claimed pole position, over a second ahead of the Lister, which was on soft tyres.

From the start of the second race, the nr 4 Ferrari pulled out a lead over its rivals, but had to retire mid-race when the engine belt broke, letting slip a victory, which had been within the grasp of the JMB Racing team, who are now fourth in the championship.

The next Italian GT round is on May 30th at Enna Pergusa.