GTO: Series Monza preview

Porsches To Challenge Kaffer-Barba At Ferrari's Home In Monza As Title Battle Heats Up In All Categories

Narac-Pilet and Lietz-Roda, determined to erode the 26-points lead of Kaffer-Barba Frezza-Couceiro to challenge Dayraut's lead in Ferrari-dominated GTS class Giammaria-Toccacelo and Villois Aston GT2, key outsiders for overall win Debut for the SunRed SRX, the new supercar built by the Spanish outfit

The International GT Open is heading this coming week-end to one o its most traditional and exciting week-ends: the majestic Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, with its history, its tifosi and the superb scenery of the Parco Reale in early autumn, has become one of the series' landmark events. Not last because its position in the calendar makes the two-race event in Lombardy critically important with regard to the title battle.

This is the case also this year, as two Porsches will attempt to threaten the 26-point lead of the AF Corse Ferrari of Pierre Kaffer-Alvaro Barba. The German machines of IMSA Performance (Narac-Pilet) and Autorlando Sport (Lietz-Roda) are tied in second position and will use the competitiveness regained in the second part of the season to keep the suspense alive until the very last race in Barcelona. On the contrary, Kaffer and Barba will logically do their utmost to increase their advantage, hoping that the home track of the Cavallino will give their F430 the momentum shown in the first half of the year.

In the role of outsiders, the EdilCris Ferrari of Giammaria-Toccacelo, while the leading F430 of CRS Racing will be driven this time by Tim Mullen and Adam Christodolou. The young Brit, who has a F.Renault UK and a Mazda Star title under his belt, is substituting for Chris Niarchos, who is taken by business commitments. Also to be taken into consideration is the Aston Martin Vantage GT2 of Italian team Villois Racing, that Guerrero-Wiser took to a brilliant maiden win in Brands Hatch.

Monza will also see the debut of the SunRed SRX, the latest supercar designed and built by the Spanish outfit. It represents the third model generation, after the Cupra GT and the SR21, in the original production of Joan Orus and will be powered by a Judd V8. WTCC star Jordi Gene and Ferran Monje will be at the wheel.

Close fight also in the GTS category, where Frenchman Jean-Philippe Dayraut (Luxury Racing) has a 12-point lead on the Marco Frezza-Pedro Couceiro. The Kessel Racing pair lost a good opportunity to close the gap at Brands Hatch, where the F430 was twice victim of a fire, but is still in a position to fight for the title in an all-Ferrari duel. But candidates for race wins also include the other Kessel machine of Livio- Bontempelli, the Autorlando Porsche GT3 of Deverikos-Gruber, the RPM Ford GT of Bamford-Mortimer and the Villois Aston of Lancieri-Busnelli.

The Monza entry list includes 25 cars and some novelties: are back, in Super GT, the two AF Ferraris of Gerber-Griffin and Garofano-Rangoni, while the RCA-prepared F430 entered by the Automobil Club d'Andorra will make its first appearance, driven by Manel Cerqueda and Sintu Vives, who usually race in the Spanish GT championship. In GTS, are back the second Luxury Ferrari and the third Kessel Ferrari of Freddy Kremer.

All the action from Monza can be followed by fans via the live broadcasts in Italy (Nuvolari), Spain (Sportmania, Canal + Deportes; Intereconomia TV), Portugal (Sport TV) and Poland (nSport) and in 50 countries throughout Europe by Motors TV. Additional delayed coverage is offered by OTV in Lebanon and the Middle East and by Fox Sports and ESPN in Central and South America.

-source: gtopen