Oreca duo take GT win

The Chrysler Viper duo won their sixth race of 1999 after finishing 18 seconds ahead of Christian Vann and German driver Christian Glaesel at yesterday's Zhuhai race.

Beretta and Wendlinger finished the year as champions, while their Oreca outfit won the championship for teams.

Three Chrysler Vipers filled the top three places in Zhuhai.

Wendlinger started the three-hour race from third on the grid, and moved to second after polesitter Wolfgang Kaufmann spun off on the opening lap.

The 30-year-old Austrian battled with German Sascha Maassen in the Konrad Porsche for the lead, and managed to pass him on lap 19.

'It was very difficult to pass him because he was fast on the straight,' said Wendlinger.

'I had to make up the time in the corners, which was hard on the brakes because we are carrying 100kg extra weight.'

Jean-Philippe Belloc and Vincent Vosse, who were driving the second Team Oreca Viper, finished fifth after colliding with a back marker.

Christian Vann, who came second with Christian Glaesel in the Chamberlain Viper, was delighted with his podium finish - which equalled the team's best position all year.

'Second position is fantastic,' he said. 'All credit to the team who turned the car around as fast as, or quicker, than anyone else in the pitlane.'

Results from Zhuhai: