From the depths of despair on Saturday to the heights of elation on Sunday - James Ruffier and Arnaud Peyroles experienced the extremes of emotion at Nogaro. In race nine of the FIA GT3 European Championship, driving the No.1 Martini Callaway Racing Corvette Z.06R GT3, they were forced out of a podium finish by a problem with the differential - but in race ten, they claimed victory and the overall lead of the Championship.
They led home the No.29 AutoGT Racing Morgan Aero 8 GT3 of Johan-Boris Scheier and Gaël Lesoudier, with the No.21 Matech GT Racing Ford GT of Alex Mortimer and Bradley Ellis in third.
The final podium place was only decided on the final lap when the No.40 Mühlner Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S of Vosse and Jirik was barged out of the place by Luca Pirri, in the No.19 Matech Ford GT he shares with Jürgen von Gartzen; Pirri crossed the line in fifth, ahead of the Porsche and behind the No.8 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9 of Accary and Mena, but the stewards held him responsible for the incident and handed out a 30-second penalty which dropped them out of the points.
With the No.5 Kessel Racing Ferrari F430 GT3 of Balbiani and Ricci finishing sixth, that meant there were six different makes of car in the top six places - it also means that Jose Manuel Balbiani is the 2008 Ferrari Cup Champion.
By contrast Ian Khan and Thomas Mutsch, the No.20 Matech Ford GT pair who came to Nogaro with a slender points lead, had a disastrous weekend - they were punted out of contention in the first race, and a mechanical problem forced them out of the second race while in second position.
So Peyroes and Ruffier will head to the final two races of the GT3 Championship, in Dubai at the beginning of December, with an eight-point lead over Khan and Mutsch. Accary and Mena are just one point further back, level on points with Bradley Ellis. Two races, with everything to play for: the FIA GT3 European Championship is set for a grandstand finish.
- Jacquie Groom FIA - photo SRO DPPI
GT3 Nogaro Race 1 results
05.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 5 - Nogaro Race 1 Result FIA-GT
Weather Sunny, warm
Track conditions Dry
1 8 AM Accary/Mena Aston Martin DBRS9 1:00:01.639 38 138.10
2 19 FGT Pirri/Vongartzen Ford GT 1:00:08.285 38 6.646 137.85
3 13 F Petit/Lunardi Ferrari F430 GT3 1:00:22.923 38 21.284 137.29
4 21 FGT Ellis/Mortimer F ... mehr |
Nogaro - Wam Up results
05.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 8 - Nogaro Warm Up
Weather sunny and cool
Track conditions dry
1 7 GT1 Vosse/Franchi Saleen S7 1:26.257 16 151.75
2 2 GT1 Ramos/Negrao Maserati MC 12 1:26.345 18 0.088 151.59
3 3 GT1 Bouchut/Maassen Corvette Z06 1:26.369 19 0.112 151.55
4 5 GT1 Fassler/Deletraz Corvette Z06 1:26.430 15 0.173 1 ... mehr |
Larbre and Scuderia Ecosse fastest in morning warm-up in Nogaro
05.10.2008
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Morning warm-up, at a chilly but sunny Nogaro, saw Larbre Competition confirm its successful return to the FIA GT Championship with a fastest time of 1:26.257 around the twisting 3.636 km circuit.
The nr 2 Vitaphone Maserati was second fastest, ahead of the nr 3 SRT Corvette, which will start from third on today’s grid. The two Phoenix Corvettes were fourth and sixth, sa ... mehr |
Kenis wins second race of the weekend
05.10.2008
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For his last race of 2008, Guino Kenis made sure to put up a good fight, and claimed his second win of the season in the nr6 G&A Racing BMW Z4. Alex Buncombe, who started from the back of the grid, managed to make his way up to second place, in the nr14 RJN Motorsport Nissan 350Z, and fought hard with Kenis for the last 15 minutes of the race.
Eric de Doncker came thi ... mehr |
GT4 Race 2 results Nogaro
05.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 6 - Nogaro Race Two Result
Weather sunny
Track conditions dry
1 6 GT4 Guino KENIS BMW Z4 26:18.314 16 132.69
2 14 GT4 Alex BUNCOMBE Nissan 350Z 26:19.400 16 1.086 132.60
3 1 GT4 Eric DE DONCKER Mustang FR500C 26:42.933 16 24.619 130.65
4 18 GT4 Andre GRAMMATICO BMW Z4 26:53.599 16 35.28 ... mehr |
First victory of the weekend for Buncombe and De Doncker GT4 Cup Champion
05.10.2008
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The weather was favorable for the first GT4 race this weekend at Nogaro.
After a hectic start, mainly due to 3 Sports Lights at the front of the grid after a damp qualifying session, Alex Buncombe took the win in the nr 14 RJN Motorport Nissan 350Z. Michael Mallock in the nr 32 RS Williams Aston Martin N24 was second, despite problems with his rear tyres. Eric De ... mehr |
Aston Martin wins at Nogaro as Championship leaders falter
04.10.2008
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There was plenty of drama in the opening race at Nogaro, a race which saw Thomas Accary and Pierre-Brice Mena took their first win of the season in the No.8 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9. In the seventh race of the 2008 FIA GT3 European Championsh ... mehr |
Fässler goes fourth... and Westbrook claims first FIA GT pole
04.10.2008
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Qualifying for the eighth round of the 2008 FIA GT Championship saw Phoenix Carsport driver Marcel Fässler claim his fourth pole position of the season. The Swiss driver, who shares his ... mehr |
Larbre fastest in Pre-Qualifying Session
04.10.2008
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With things slowly warming up, the cars took to the track for the second time this weekend.
Returning after their heavy Spa crash, the Labre Competition Saleen S7 of Vosse and Franchi was fastest this session, setting a lap of 1:23.920.
Deletraz and Fässler in the nr 6 Phoenix Carsport Racing Corvette Z06 set the second best time of 1:24.061. Third went to Wendl ... mehr |
Nogaro - Pre Qualifying results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 8 - Nogaro Pre Qualifying FIA-GT
Weather sunny
1 7 GT1 Vosse/Franchi Saleen S7 1:23.920 32 155.97
2 5 GT1 Fassler/Deletraz Corvette Z06 1:24.061 39 0.141 155.71
3 33 GT1 Wendlinger/Sharp Aston Martin DB9 1:24.455 36 0.535 154.98
4 2 GT1 Ramos/Negrao Maserati MC 12 1:24.496 34 0.576 154.91
5 4 G ... mehr |
Aston Martin and Corvette claim Nogaro GT3 pole positions
04.10.2008
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After two hectic qualifying sessions on the 3.6km Nogaro circuit, pole position for race 7 of the FIA GT3 European Championship was claimed by the No.8 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9, ahead of two Matech GT Racing Ford GT entries - the No.19 car claimed second, with the No.21 car third.
And for race 8 the No.1 Martini Callaway Corvette Z.06R GT3 took pole by the narrowe ... mehr |
GT3 Nogaro -Combined Qualifying results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 5 - Nogaro FIAGT - GT3 Nogaro
Pos Car Class Drivers Car Gap Avg speed Laps Time 1 Laps Time 2
1 1 C Arnaud PEYROLES Corvette Z06R GT3 0.865 145.06 9 1:30.234 9 1:28.036
2 10 AM Jean-Claude LAGNIEZ Aston Martin DBRS9 2.309 142.77 12 1:31.678 9 1:28.044
3 20 FGT Ian KHAN Ford GT 2.044 143.19 13 1:31.413 10 ... mehr |
Simonsen fastest in Free Practice in Nogaro
04.10.2008
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On a cold crisp morning in Nogaro, the cars took to the track for the first time this weekend.
The cold didn't seem to make much impact on the cars though, with Simonsen in the nr 10 Gigawave Motorsport Aston Martin DB9 setting the fastest time of the session, 1:23.994, 15 minutes in. The nr 5 Phoenix Carsport Racing, driven by Fässler and Deletraz, was second fastest, w ... mehr |
Nogaro Free Practice1 results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 8 - Nogaro FIA GT
Weather sunny
1 10 GT1 Peter/Simonsen Aston Martin DB9 1:23.994 30 155.84
2 5 GT1 Fassler/Deletraz Corvette Z06 1:24.180 31 0.186 155.49
3 4 GT1 Kumpen/Longin Saleen S7 1:24.761 36 0.767 154.43
4 3 GT1 Bouchut/Maassen Corvette Z06 1:24.987 39 0.993 154.01
5 2 GT1 Ramos/Negrao Maserat ... mehr |
GT3 Nogaro - Free Practice Driver Quotes
04.10.2008
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David Ashburn – No.6 Trackspeed Porsche 997 GT3 Cups S: "Richard set the quickest lap in the afternoon session – he’s the racing driver! The walls make it feel quite claustrophobic, but as a driver you have to compensate for the lack of run-off area. We haven’t got the car set up properly yet, so we may be able to improve. It’s going to be interesting to see what ha ... mehr |
Haase and Mallock on poles in Nogaro GT4
04.10.2008
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GT4 Qualifying session
The starting grids are now decided for the last three GT4 races of this season. The rain during the first session really helped the Sports Light championship with Christopher Haase, driving the nr 101 Reiter Engineering KTM Xbow, setting overall pole for the long race and the second sprint race with his time of 1:45.133.
A first for ... mehr |
GT4- Nogaro Qualifying 2 results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 6 - Nogaro Qualifying 2 FIA-GT GT4
Weather cloudy
Track conditions dry
1 32 GT4 Michael MALLOCK Aston Martin N24 1:42.436 8 127.78
2 1 GT4 Eric DE DONCKER Mustang FR500C 1:42.701 10 0.265 127.45
3 66 GT4 Raed CHARAWI Aston Martin N24 1:42.928 8 0.492 127.17
4 103 SL Denis DONKERVOORT Donkervoo ... mehr |
GT4 Nogaro : Qualifying 1 results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 6 - Nogaro Qualifying 1 FIA-GT GT4
Weather rain
Track conditions damp
1 101 SL Christopher HAASE KTM Xbow 1:45.133 10 124.50
2 103 SL Denis DONKERVOORT Donkervoort D8GT 1:47.522 8 2.389 121.73
3 102 SL S WINTENBERGER Donkervoort D8GT 1:48.611 9 3.478 120.51
4 3 GT4 Jurgen VAN HOVER Aston ... mehr |
GT4 - NOGARO Free Practices 1 and 2 results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 6 - Nogaro Free Practice 1 FIA GT - GT4
Weather sunny
Track conditions drying
1 101 SL Haase/Retera KTM Xbow 1:46.220 21 123.23
2 100 SL Catharina FELSER KTM Xbow 1:47.007 24 0.787 122.32
3 6 GT4 Kenis/Udalenkov BMW Z4 1:48.341 26 2.121 120.81
4 102 SL S WINTENBERGER Donke ... mehr |
GT3 Nogaro Free Practice 2 results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 5 - Nogaro FIA-GT GT3 Free Practice 2
Weather Partly cloudy, breez
Track conditions Dry
1 1 C Peyroles/Ruffier Corvette Z06R GT3 1:30.023 23 145.40
2 17 AM Ciro/Zani Aston Martin DBRS9 1:30.168 29 0.145 145.16
3 10 AM Lagniez/Makowiecki Aston Martin DBRS9 1:30.197 21 0.174 145.12
... mehr |
GT3 Nogaro Free Practice 1 results
04.10.2008
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Results: 2008 Round 5 - Nogaro FIA-GT GT3
Weather Rain, windy, cool
Track conditions Wet
1 13 F Petit/Lunardi Ferrari F430 GT3 1:43.746 23 126.17
2 20 FGT Khan/Mutsch Ford GT 1:43.951 25 0.205 125.92
3 5 F Ricci/Balbiani Ferrari F430 GT3 1:44.456 23 0.710 125.31
4 29 M Lesoudier/Scheier Morgan Aero 8 GT3 1:45.596 ... mehr |
Hexis Racing - Make that silver, bronze and gold!
01.10.2008
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FIA GT3 European Championship (Brno) / ADAC GT Masters (Lausitzring & Sachsenring)
Hexis Racing's Aston Martins, in their sleek silver livery, have just completed a three-week campaign that saw them pick up se ... mehr |
FIA GT : Nogaro hosts round 8
28.09.2008
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For the second time, the FIA GT Championship will head to Nogaro, for the eighth round of the 2008 season. With only three rounds remaining, the title chases are beginning to reach their climax, and the first crowns could eventually be secured in France.
... mehr |
Bioracing Series : the hour of consacration
28.09.2008
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The BIORACING Series goes international with the next meeting : a visit to Nogaro within the FIA GT Championship meeting. An ideal playing field for Geoffrey Dellus, who aims to claim the first-ever crown in the BIORACING Series. Having already claimed the DIESTER ... mehr |
FIA GT3 : off to Nogaro for penultimate round
28.09.2008
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As the FIA GT3 European Championship enters its closing phase, the race for the Drivers’ title is proving just as close as the racing on the track. After the chaotic events in the previous round, at Brno in the Czech Republic, just two points separate the leading ... mehr |
GT4 European Cup : title decider in Nogaro
28.09.2008
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After fourteen races and five events, the 2008 GT4 European Cup is heading for the south of France and the circuit of Nogaro, for the season finale, which will decide the Champions !
In the points table, Eric de Doncker, in the nr 1 Motor ... mehr |
Nogaro Race preview
28.09.2008
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For the second time, the FIA GT Championship will be heading to the circuit of Nogaro, in the South of France. This track was extensively renovated in 2006, with new state-of-the-art facilities in an impressive pit building, and hosted an excellent round of t ... mehr |
Aston Martin Vantage V8 to make debut in G2
28.09.2008
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Vantage Aston Martin Racing will enter the Aston Martin Vantage V8 in Nogaro, to evaluate the car’s performance.
As George Howard-Chappell, Team Principal Aston Martin Racing, explained : "2008 is a test and development year for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 car.
Following the improving results of the car in the ALMS and LMS, we will debut the ca ... mehr |
Bert Longin: Hoping for a good result
28.09.2008
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Longin PK Carsport have had a difficult season with their Saleen S7R.
However, with a season-best result of fourth in Bucharest, and a third-place qualifying performance i ... mehr |
