Second win for DAMS in Brno

Frenchmen Jean-Marc Gounon and Christophe Tinseau, who started from pole, completed 77 laps of the 5.4-km track, setting the fastest lap in the process.

The introduction of the so-called 'success ballast' appears to have had a significant effect on the series, not only ending JB Giesse's total domination, but bringing the grid closer together.

The leading four cars out of the nine finishers were on the same lap after the two-and-a half hour race.

Tinseau took an early lead, but pitted after only thirty minutes, complaining of a lack of grip.

Apicella, in the Target 24 Riley&Scott, moved into the lead and remained there until losing time during the pit-stop when a wheel nut jammed.

Gounon, taking over the DAMS, regained first place ahead of the Riley and Scott.

In the closing stages of the race, the Target 24 Riley&Scott began to lose time as the tyre grip decreased.

'I turned my brake balance to the back to change the balance of the car, but it wasn't any good, the understeer was too bad,' said driver Andrea de Lorenzi.

He was passed first by the Collard/Sospiri JB Giesse Ferrari, which took second, and then, on the final lap, by the father and son Ferrari team of Zadra and Zadra.

De Lorenzi and Apicella finally finished fourth.

Retirements included the #2 JB Giesse Ferrari 333SP, which crashed into a
spinning BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari on the first lap.

The GLV Brums Ferrari also failed to finish, losing time early on to change a rear wing,
eventually retiring due to starter motor failure.

The Kremer Lola Roush car performed well in the early stages, leading for one lap, but a list of problems, including wheel nuts, throttle and clutch, dropped them down the field to ninth - and last - place.

The SR2 class had the most problems, with only one car, the Debora BMW driven by Bruneau and Rostan, classifed.

Both Tampolli cars retired with engine failure after spreading oil on the track, adding to the grip problems.

The next round is at the Nurburgring on the September 5.