Brno FIA GTs: Labre takes first series win

On a wet and greasy surface, with the temperature struggling towards 5-degrees, pole sitter Anthony Kumpen took the lead from the start in his Belmondo Racing Chrysler Viper, but then received a stop/go penalty for not waiting for the lights to turn green before he accelerated away from the rolling start. The other front row car, the Labre Competition Viper of Christophe Bouchut, made a terrible start and dropped down the order into the clutches of the N-GT cars on dry settings while topped up with fuel.

"The car was no good in the wet," said Bouchut. "It was just a matter of staying on the track."

The man to watch early on was Mike Hezemans, who didn't even start at Monza due to engine problems with his Carsport Holland Viper. From 13th on the grid, he stormed into the lead by lap three and pulled away to an impressive early advantage.

The Lister squad suffered in Sunday's Superpole session when the heavens opened before it was their turn to qualify, but Jamie Campbell-Walter slowly made his way through the pack to hold second after 10 laps. Julian Bailey started the second Lister from the pits, however, when the team misjudged when the pit lane would close.

The race was constantly affected by rain showers, which had been a feature of the whole weekend. Ironically, it ended under sunny skies and on a virtually dry track and tyre choice for the final stint was crucial.

Hezemans chose to take intermediate tyres when he took over the Carsport Holland Viper from co-driver Jeroen Bleekemolen, while fellow frontrunner Vincent Vosse took slicks on his Belmondo car when he did likewise from Boris Derichebourg. A few laps later, Hezemans was in again for slicks, ruining any hopes of victory.

Also in with a shout of victory, only to have it snatched away, was the Kumpen/Emmanuele Clerico Viper, which succumbed to engine failure in the final stages.

"It just stopped but I still had 20-litres of fuel," said Clerico. "I think we could have won this race."

All the drama allowed the slick-shod Bouchut and Belloc to take a 30sec win over the closing Vosse/Derichebourg and Hezemans/Bleekemolen Vipers.

"It was very, very difficult," said Belloc. "It was difficult to try to find the right pace and manage the tyres and fuel. We decided to take a second pit stop for slick tyres which turned out to be a very good strategy."

Campbell-Walter and temporary co-driver Richard Dean finished fourth in their Lister, which was carrying 40-kilos of success ballast after its Monza win. A spin cost the car 30secs when JC-W was driving, which he felt cost them victory, as the Storm was the fastest car on the circuit in the final stages.

Dieter Quester and Luca Riccitelli won N-GT in their Red Bull Porsche, despite a spin in the closing minutes of the race, just ahead of the Ferrari of David Terrien and Christian Pescatori.


1 Christophe Bouchut/Jean Philippe Belloc, Labre Chrysler Viper
2 Vincent Vosse/Boris Derichebourg, Belmondo Chrysler Viper, +18.763s
3 Mike Hezemans/Jeroen Bleekemolen, Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper +1m00.645s
4 Jamie Campbell-Walter/Richard Dean, Lister Storm +1m28.679s
5 Mimmo Schiatarella/Emanuele Naspetti, Rafanelli Ferrari 550 Maranello, +2 laps
6 Marc Duez/Gunther Bleininger, Ferrari 550 Maranello, +2 laps