Today's third round of the FIA GT Championship, watched by approximately 40,000 spectators gathered around the Pergusa circuit in Sicily, saw Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Cappellari cross the line first in the GT category, at the wheel of their BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari 550 Maranello. They finished ahead of their team-mates Biagi and Bobbi,  with the Lister Storm of Campbell-Walter and Kinch third. However, a faulty airbox caused the car to be excluded after scrutineering, promoting Biagi and Bobbi to their third successive win. The team has appealed and the results therefore remain provisional.

In N-GT, a thrilling end to the race saw Sugden and Short take their first win in the FIA GT Championship, in the EMKA Racing Porsche 996 GT3-RS. Tim Sugden took the lead on the last lap when Fabrizio De Simone, in the nr 52 JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena, spun after a frantic last minute battle between the two cars. Twin brothers David and Godfrey Jones took the third place in their Eurotech Porsche 996 GT3-RS.

Fabrizio Gollin and Luca Cappellari might have taken the chequered flag, but their exclusion after post-race scrutineering promoted Bobbi and Biagi to their third consecutive win in the FIA GT Championship. After qualifying second, Gollin and Cappellari ran strongly in the top three throughout, taking the lead when their team-mates Biagi and Bobbi lost time in the pits. BMS Scuderia Italia now have 46 points, leading Lister Racing by 20, with Bobbi and Biagi fourteen points ahead of Gollin and Cappellari in the Drivers classification. “Even with 80 kg, the car is fantastic,” Bobbi said afterwards, “This is a very good result for the Championship.”

GT

Jean-Marc Gounon started from pole in the Konrad Saleen S7-R and ran strongly throughout his stint, easily keeping the lead of the race. “The car was perfect,” he said. He was followed by the nr 22 BMS Ferrari, while the nr 5 Force One Chrysler Viper, so fast all weekend, suffered damage after blowing a tyre and retired.  This brought the nr 14 Lister up to third place. 

When Gounon handed the Konrad over to Toni Seiler, the car dropped back, while the three BMS-run Ferrari 550 Maranello cars came to the fore. By lap 43, Bobbi was leading from Cappellari, with Seiler third and the nr 21 Care Racing car fourth.  On lap 68, however, the Saleen retired due to a broken gearbox, leaving three Ferrari 550 Maranello cars ahead of three Lister Storms. The nr 23 car lost time during a long pit-stop, due to a broken speed limiter, demoting it behind the nr 22. Near the end of the race, a late splash-and-dash for the nr 21 promoted the Lister to third on the track. After the nr 22 was excluded, the race win has provisionally been awarded to the nr 23 BMS Ferrari 550 Maranello of Biagi and Bobbi, with the nr 14 Lister of Campbell-Walter and Kinch second, and the nr 21 Care Racing Ferrari of Bryner, Calderari and Livio third. Fourth place is provisionally taken by the Creation Autosportif Lister of Verdon-Roe and Zadra, with Piccini and Deletraz fifth. Alliot and Zacchia were sixth for Force One Racing, with the sole remaining Graham Nash Motorsport Saleen S7-R of Amorim, Chaves and Ramos seventh. The final point for eighth point went to the Zwaan’s Racing Chrysler Viper.

N-GT

The nr 52 JMB Racing Ferrari 360 Modena started strongly from pole, ahead of the two TMC Ferrari 360 cars. However, an early collision between the nr 52 JMB car and the nr 50 Freisinger Motorsport Porsche 996 GT3-RS meant an early pit-stop for the Ferrari, which dropped down the field. Freisinger Motorsport tried to repair nr 50 car of Ortelli and Lieb, but the car was eventually forced to retire. 

The two TMC Ferrari 360 Modena cars then looked to be dominating the race, but the nr 89 car developed gearbox problems, leaving the nr 88 in the lead ahead of the nr 51 Freisinger Porsche of Longin and Gardel, and the fast recovering nr 52 JMB Ferrari. The nr 57 MENX Ferrari went off the track into the barriers, bringing the safety car out briefly. The nr 88 N-GT car, leading the class, came into the pits during this period, and was to receive a 30 second stop and go penalty for exiting when the light was red. When the nr 51 Porsche retired with an engine problem, the nr 61 EMKA Porsche, which had been consistently fast, was then lying second behind the nr 52 JMB Ferrari 360 Modena. 

The final four laps saw the lead change four times, with Sugden finally taking his first win, after 500 km of racing, on lap 102. Third place went to the Jones twins, David and Godfrey, in the nr 75 Eurotech Porsche 996 GT3-RS – the first time they have finished a race in the Championship. The battle for fourth place was equally exciting, with the all-Russian crew of the nr 77 RWS Yukos Porsche 996 GT3-RS gaining the advantage on the final lap over their Polish counterparts in the nr 56 Alda Motorsport Porsche. With four points for fifth place, these were Alda’s first points in the Championship. The nr 53 JMB Racing Ferrari of Kutemann and Gosse was sixth, with the two TMC cars taking the final points for seventh and eighth.

> CLASSIFIED RESULT FROM PERGUSA

Race Start : 11:20
Total distance : 93 laps = 502.47 km or 3 hours 
Starting Grid :  2 – 14 – 23 – 22 – 15 – 5 – 7 – 8 – 4 – 6 – 9 – 18 – 21 – 10 – 11 – 16 – 50 – 52 – 89 – 57 – 99 – 58 – 61 – 88 – 51 – 74 – 75 – 56 – 12- 77 – 54 – 53 - 69

Weather : sunny and warm, with a light breeze, track dry.  Temperatures air 24°, track 35°

RWS Yukos has changed the engine on the nr 99 Porsche, which blew an engine during the warm-up.  It took the team just one hour …

The nr 54 Cirtek Porsche is starting from the pit lane

Start Gounon keeps the lead into the first corner, pulling away from the nr 14 Lister Storm , which is closely followed by the nr 23 BMS Ferrari. 
Lap 1 GT :  2 – 14 – 23 – 5 – 22 – 15 – 4 – 9- 8- 7 
 N-GT :  52 – 50 – 89 – 99 – 58 – 61 – 88 
 Gounon set the fastest lap with a time of 1 : 59.505, and has a lead of 2.503 seconds
 Good start by Hezemans, in the nr 5 Viper, moving up to fourth from 6th on the grid.
 Bertolini overtook N-GT pole setter Freisinger
 The nr 10 went off at the first corner
Lap 2 Gounon improves the best lap to 1:59.171
Lap 3 The nr 2 Konrad Saleen now has a lead of 4.860 seconds over the nr 14 Storm; Piccini in the nr 15 Storm is just 0.3 seconds behind Gollin in the nr 22 BMS Ferrari in the battle for 5th
Lap 5 Big fight between Bertolini and Ortelli for the N-GT lead, with the Porsche nose to tail with the Ferrari
 GT : 2 – 14 – 23 – 5 – 22 – 15 – 4 – 9 – 8
 N-GT : 52 – 50 – 89 – 61 – 99 – 51 – 58
Lap 6 Ortelli in the nr 50 Freisinger Porsche  takes N-GT lead ahead of Bertolini
 Gounon has a lead of 6.4 seconds over Campbell-Walter in the 14 Lister
Lap 8 Ferrari nr 16 to the pits
Lap 9 Porsche nr 77 to the pits, pushed into the garage – retires with a broken engine
Lap 10 GT : 2 – 14 – 23 – 5 – 22 – 15 – 4 – 9 – 7
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 61 – 89 – 51 – 88 – 99
Lap 11 Ferrari nr 16 rejoins, 4 laps down, with a steering problem
Lap 12 Sugden, in the nr 61 EMKA Porsche, overtakes the nr 52 JMB Racing Ferrari for second in N-GT
Lap 15 GT : 2- 14 – 23 – 5 – 22 –15 – 4-  7 – 9
 N-GT : 50 – 51 – 52 – 89 – 51 – 88 – 99 – 58
 The nr 89 TMC Ferrari is right behind the nr 52 JMB Ferrari
Lap 17 Saleen nr 8 to the pits; fuel, tyres but pulls away leaving the tyre gun attached to the car.  Stops in the pit lane for it to be removed.
Lap 18 Bobbi in the nr 23 Ferrari is only 1.3 seconds behind the nr 14 Lister for second place
Lap 19 Burt, in the nr 89 TMC car, overtakes Bertolini in the nr 52 Ferrari for third in N-GT
 The nr 12 Proton Porsche pulls to the side of the track 
Lap 20 nr 5 Force One Viper going slowly on the track, apparently with a blown tyre.  Bodywork flies off the car.  Drops down the field. 
 Saleen nr 8 returns to the pits
Lap 21 GT : 2 – 14 – 23 – 22 – 15 – 4 – 7 – 9
 N-GT : 50 – 61 – 89 – 52 – 51 – 88 - 58
 Viper nr 5 to the pits, blown tyre, driver change to Kumpen, tyres and fuel
 Car nr 18 receives a 20 second stop and go penalty due to starting the race with only two marked tyres
Lap 22 The nr 2 Konrad car now has a lead of 15.594 seconds over the nr 14 Lister Storm
Lap 25 GT : 2- 14 – 23 – 22 – 15 – 4
 N-GT : 50 – 61 – 89 – 52 – 51 - 88
Lap 26 nr 56 Alda Motorsport Porsche spins off the track into the gravel
Lap 27 nr 18 Viper to the pits for its penalty
Lap 28 Ferrari nr 9 to the pits – pushed into the garage
Lap 29 Porsche nr 56 to the pits after their off; fuel
Lap 30 Race leader nr 2 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Seiler
 Ferrari nr 23 to the pits,  fuel, tyres and driver to Biagi
 Ferrari nr 21 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bryner
Lap 31 Lister nr 6 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Zadra
 Lister nr 15 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Deletraz
 Ferrari nr 22 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Calderari
 Viper nr 11 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Roos
 Viper nr 4 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Hallyday
 Viper nr 18 to the pit, fuel, tyres and driver to Arjan van de Zwaan
Lap 32 Porsche nr 61 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Short
Lap 33 Race leader nr 14 Lister to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Kinch
 Ferrari nr 52 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to De Simone
 Viper nr 5 to the pits
 Porsche nr 69 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Gerold Ried
 Saleen nr 7 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Newton
 Viper nr 4 and nr 5 retire – 5 due to the tyre damage, 4 with a blown engine
Lap 35 Ferrari nr 16 to the pits with a cooling problem
 Oil reported on the track at turn 11
 GT : 23 – 2 – 22 – 14 – 15 – 21 – 7
 N-GT : 50 - 88 – 89 – 51 – 57 – 99
nr 16 returns to the pits
 Porsche nr 51 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Longin
Lap 39 Porsche nr 74 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Jordan
 Porsche nr 50, N-GT leader, to the pits. Fuel, tyres and driver to Lieb
Lap 40 Saleen nr 8 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Amorim
 GT : 23 – 2 – 14 – 22 – 15 – 21 – 6 – 7 – 11
 N-GT : 88 – 89 – 50 – 57 – 52 – 99  -61 – 51 – 75
 Biagi has a lead of 19.099 seconds over second placed Seiler in the Konrad car
Lap 42  Ferrari nr 57 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Enge
 Porsche nr 99 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Daoudi
 Porsche nr 56 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Doubrzanski
 Ferrari nr 88 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Davies
Lap 43 Kinch is only 0.709 seconds behind Seiler in the fight for second place
 Ferrari nr 89 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Turner
Lap 44 Ferrari nr 53 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Gosse
Lap 45 Kinch overtakes Seiler for second place overall
 Ferrari nr 58 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Gomez 
 GT : 23 – 14 – 2 – 22 – 15 – 21 – 6 – 7
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 61 – 89 – 88 – 51 – 57 – 99
Lap 46 Nr 14 stopped on the track after spinning ; gets going again.  Drops down to 6th place
Lap 47 GT : 23 – 2 – 15 – 22 – 21 –14 – 6 – 7
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 61 – 89 – 88 – 51 – 57
Lap 49 Biagi now has a lead of 38 seconds over Seiler in the nr 2 Saleen, which is being attacked by Deletraz in the nr 15 Lister Storm
Lap 50 Deletraz attacks but Seiler resists
Lap 52 The nr 15 overtakes the nr 2 for second place
Lap 53 Porsche nr 61 to the pits, left tyres, fuel and driver to Sugden
 GT : 23 – 15 – 2 – 22 – 21 –14 – 6 –7
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 89 – 88 – 61 – 51
Lap 54 Ferrari nr 89 to the pits, pushed into the garage
Lap 57 Saleen nr 2 to the pits; fuel, tyres and driver to Konrad
 Lister nr 14 to the pits, fuel tyres and driver to Campbell-Walter
Lap 58 Ferrari nr 22 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Gollin
 Ferrari nr 58 stopped on the side of the track
 Ferrari nr 89 rejoins the race, electrical problem
Lap 60 Lister nr 15 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Piccini
 Race leader nr 23 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bobbi
 Lister nr 6 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Verdon-Roe
 Porsche 99 to the pits, fuel and rear tyres only
 Ferrari nr 21 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Livio
 Porsche nr 69 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Christian Ried
Lap 61 GT : 23 – 15 – 22 – 14 – 21 – 18
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 88 - 51
 Ferrari nr 16 to the pits – problem starting
 Viper nr 11 to the pits, fuel tyres and driver to Wallinder
Lap 63 Viper nr 18 off the side of the track
Lap 67 Ferrari nr 52, 2nd in N-GT, to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bertolini
Lap 68 Bobbi in the nr 23 Ferrari has a lead of 50 seconds over Piccini, who has pulled out his lead over Gollin to 2.8 seconds.  Campbell-Walter is in 4th place, 22 seconds behind Gollin, and is currently lapping faster, with 40 minutes of the race remaining. Saleen nr 2 to the pits, fuel only.  It rejoins, but appears to be going slowly on the track
Lap 70 Saleen nr 2 to the pits again – rear cover removed- electrical problems - rejoins

Lap 70 GT : 23 – 15 – 22 – 14 – 21 – 6
 N-GT : 50 – 88- 52 – 51 – 61 – 57
Lap 73 Campbell-Walter is closing gradually on the nr 22 for third place, and is now 15 seconds behind
 Porsche nr 51 to the pits
 Car nr 16 receives 10 seconds stop and go penalty due to the engine not being started by the driver
Lap 74 Porsche 74 to the pits
 Ferrari nr 16 to the pits – cooling problem
Lap 76 Porsche nr 99 going slowly  - to the pits – retires with transmission problems
Lap 77 The nr 14 Lister is now 9.99 seconds behind the nr 22 Ferrari, with 16 minutes remaining, with Campbell-Walter approximately a second a lap faster than Gollin
 GT : 23 – 15 – 22 – 14 – 21- 6 – 7
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 88 – 61 – 57 – 51
Lap 80 N-GT leader Porsche nr 50 to the pits – splash and dash
Lap 81 Gollin is now only 1.9 seconds from Piccini, with Campbell-Walter 6.5 seconds behind Gollin
Lap 82 Ferrari nr 89 to the pits, splash and dash
 GT : 23 – 15 – 22 – 14 – 21 – 6 – 7
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 88 – 61 – 57
Lap 83 Piccini goes wide ; Gollin closes up.
 Campbell-Walter is over a second faster than the other cars in the front pack, lapping with consistent 2:01 laps instead of 2:03.  He is now 4 seconds from the Gollin
Lap 84 Piccini, Gollin and Campbell-Walter are within 6 seconds of each  other, with less than three minutes remaining.
Lap 86 GT : 23 – 15 – 22 – 14 – 21 – 6 – 7 - 8
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 88 – 61 – 57 – 51 – 75 – 74
Lap 87 Chequered Flag
 Fourth win for Bobbi and Biagi in the nr 23 BMS Ferrari
 Piccini takes second place in the nr 15 Lister , 0.129 seconds ahead of Gollin in the nr 22 Ferrari, with Campbell-Walter a further 3.6 seconds behind for fourth
 In N-GT, Lieb and Ortelli repeat their 2002 win in the nr 50 Freisinger Motorsport Porsche, ahead of the nr 52 JMB Racing and the nr 88 TMC Ferrari of Davies and Mullen
 GT : 23 – 15 – 22 – 14 – 21 – 6- 7 – 8
 N-GT : 50 – 52 – 88 – 61 – 57 – 51 – 75 – 74