FIA GT preview: Lister guns for third win of the year

Championship leader Jamie Campbell-Walter is joined by ex-Formula Nippon champion Tom Coronel in the lead Lister Storm, while the second car is crewed by former Lotus and Tyrrell F1 racer Julian Bailey and Nicolaus Springer. The battle for supremacy between JC-W and Bailey got a little too close at Magny-Cours and should provide similar fireworks on their home circuit.

The reigning champion Lister squad has been under increased pressure this season, however, thanks to the Labre Competition Chrysler Viper of Christophe Bouchut and Jean-Philippe Belloc, which won at Brno. Another strong Viper entry is the Carsport Holland car of Mike Hezemans and Jeroen Bleekemolen, which is backed up by a second entry for Bleekemolen's father Michael and brother Sebastiaan.

Ferrari will also challenge for honours with the ever improving Rafanelli-run 550 Maranellos of Emanuele Naspetti/Mimmo Schiattarella and Marc Duez/Gunther Blieninger.

The Prancing Horse's efforts will be complemented by the debut of a Prodrive-run 550 for BTCC champions Alain Menu and Rickard Rydell. Although the car is brand new, and runs on different tyres from the Rafanelli cars, the Banbury-based squad is expected to create some waves on its series debut.

In the N-GT class, the JMB Competition Ferrari 360 Modena, driven by David Terrien and Christian Pescatori, will be looking for a repeat of their Magny-Cours victory. A more likely victor, however, should be from the massed Porsche ranks and the RWS Motorsport example of Luca Riccitelli/Dieter Quester looks a good bet.