Mikkel Mac is the 2018 International GT Open Champion! A second, together with Alessandro Pier Guidi, was enough for the Dane of the Luzich Racing Ferrari, to secure the crown, beating Fran Rueda-Andrés Saravia (Teo Martín BMW), who finished fourth today. At the end of a fantastic season, Mac was clearly happy: “It’s a fantastic day, where we finished a job well done throughout the season, and I really want to share the success with the entire Luzich team, my team mates Pier Guidi and Cioci, because it’s the title of all of us”.
The last win of the season was a well-deserved one of the Imperiale Racing duo of youngsters, Riccardo Agostini and Rik Breukers, who had at last a trouble-free outing. The second win of the weekend for Lamborghini also sanctions the success of Imperiale Racing in the Teams’ standings.
In Pro-Am, Valentin Pierburg and Tom Onslow-Cole clinched the title last-minute with the points of P2 in the race, won by the Drivex Mercedes of Chrisitan Hahn-Lucas Auer, which scored no points in this one-off participation. The SPS Mercedes pair finishes tied in points with Miguel Ramos-Fabrizio Crestani (Daiko Lazarus Lambo) but takes the title thanks to their 5 wins.
In Am, Stefano Costantini (Target Lambo) doubled yesterday’s win ahead of the already- crowned Andrzej Lewandowski-Giulio Borlenghi (VSR Lambo).
THE RACE – At the start, poleman Rueda keeps the advantage over Venturini, Pier Guidi, Basso, Auer, Jäger, Agostini, Rizzoli and Giammaria, while Ward spins at first corner. In lap 2, also Basso is in the gravel and against the barriers, pushed by Salikhov (who later will receive a drive-through). The safety-car is out to allow retrieving the BMW.
Shortly after restart, in lap 5, Venturini takes the lead with a daring move and flies slightly away, with the attention focusing on the duel between Rueda and Pier Guidi. In the Pro-Am fight, Pierburg is right ahead of Ramos.
Rueda is the very first to stop for driver change as the window opens in lap 14. Pier Guidi stops one lap later. In lap 20, there is a contact between Fioravanti and Beirão, with the BMW spinning and the Lambo getting stopped along the track. After all changes, Mac leads with 4 seconds over Breukers, then a group comprising Christian Hahn, Saravia, Plachutta, liang, cioci, Montermini and Mul. The Dutchman bumps into the RS Racing Ferrari in lap 22, getting a drive-through.
Battle for the lead becomes hot between Mac and Breukers, with the Dutch attacking a couple of times and eventually passing in lap 25. Shortly after, there is contact between Lisowski and Plachutta, with Montermini and Zaugg doing the same in lap 30. No changes in the final laps, except for a puncture for West, which doesn’t change the outcome in Pro-Am.
FINAL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 14 OF 14
Overall: 1. Mac, 124; 2. Saravia-Rueda, 114; 3. Pier Guidi, 108; 4. Venturini-Mul, 94; 5. Agostini-Breukers, 89; 6. Fioravanti, 78; etc
Pro-Am: 1. Pierburg-Onslow Cole, 78; 2. Crestani-Ramos, 78; 3. Hahn, 58; 4. Ellis-Wilkinson, 48; 5. Liang- Giammaria, 47; 6. Rugolo-West, 37; etc.
GT-Am: 1. Lewandowski-Borlenghi, 76 points; 2. Konopka, 61; 3. Basso, 58; 4. Hrachowina-Konrad, 53; 5. Coimbra Da Costa-Silva Sardinha, 47; 6. Calko, 35; etc
Teams: 1. Imperiale Racing, 110; 2. Luzich Racing, 100 points; 3. BMW Team Teo Martín, 79 points; 4. Ombra Racing, 42; 5. RS Racing, 37; 6. SPS Automotive Performance, 30; etc
