19.07.2004 The Ferrari 360 GTC yesterday claimed the N-GT crown in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship despite one round STILL remaining, the first title for the car, in its first year of racing

The Ferrari 360 GTC racer yesterday claimed the N-GT crown in the Italian Gran Turismo Championship, the first title for the car, in its first year of racing.

At the Misano Adriatico circuit, during the seventh round, and with just one more event remaining, the crew of Loris Kessel and Andrea Chiesa, driving for Loris Kessel Racing, scored sufficient points to put the title out of the reach of their rivals.

In the two races, held at the circuit near Rimini, which were both won by Stefano Zonca and Angelo Lancelotti at the wheel of a Lister Storm, the Swiss drivers finished third and fourth overall.

In Race two, third across the finishing line was another Ferrari 360 GTC, this the Mik Corse example, piloted by Giovanni Berton and Luciano Linossi, the latter making his race debut with the team after making the step up from the Ferrari 360 Challenge.

They, in turn, followed home Matteo Malucelli and Lorenzo Case, at the wheel of the JMB Racing-entered Ferrari 575 GTC which had staged a strong comeback drive through the field.

For Loris Kessel and Andrea Chiesa, this was a repeat performance, the pair winning their class in the Italian championship last year, at the wheel of the previous model Ferrari 360 GT.

The Ferrari 360 GTC is based on the Challenge Stradale, developed by the Maranello company’s Corse Clienti department. It recently took its first win the GT class of the American Le Mans Series and is now preparing to tackle the prestigious Spa 24 Hours in Belgium at the end of this month.