FIA GT race: Third win keeps Hezemans in title race

Followed across the finish line by the two Lister Storms, Hezemans is now the only man who can challenge Julian Bailey and Jamie Campbell Walter for the Drivers Championship. In the GT Teams Championship, second and third places meant that Lister reclaimed the lead from Paul Belmondo Racing, whose two Chrysler Vipers finished in fourth and sixth places.

The 3-hour race started behind the pace car because of heavy rain. Bailey, in the pole-setting Lister Storm, pulled away after five safety-car laps, while Favre, in the second Storm, dropped back with tyre problems. Initially Vosse held second, behind the Lister, but he was soon overhauled by flying Dutchman Hezemans.

Another win for the Lister appeared to be a near certainty. However, when the team sent Campbell Walter out on slick tyres on a still-damp track, the young British driver was soon struggling. Describing his stint as "the worst experience of my life," Campbell Walter was losing 11 seconds a lap and pitted after just 10 laps of the undulating Czech track. In all, two minutes were lost, and this gave Carsport's David Hart, taking over from Hezemans, a comfortable lead. Campbell Walter fought back up to second, with Favre and Springer third in the second Lister, giving the British team their first double podium.

The N-GT category saw another win for Larbre Competition's Christophe Bouchut and Patrice Goueslard. The two Frenchmen benefited from RWS's decision to keep Luca Riccitelli in for a double stint, meaning the Red Bull Racing Porsche 996 GT3 had two pit stops to the Larbre team's one.

Riccitelli and Quester were second, with Andre Arhlé and Ferdinand de
Lesseps third in the second Larbre car.

The final round of the championship takes place next month, at Magny Cours. In the GT class Julian Baliey and Jamie Campbell Walter have 49 points, with third placed Mike Hezemans just 4.5 points behind on 44.5.

Pos/Class/Driver/Car/Laps
GT Carsport Chry.