Analysis

The Planetlemans FIA GT Monza preview

© Planetlemans - Gabriel Portos

Almost a month after the opening round on cold and foggy Silverstone circuit the FIA GT championship will be at the Autodromo Nazionale Monza for round two. Last year the weather was good and Jetalliance Racing and AF Corse won their classes. This year at least the weather seems to change, with thunderstorms expected throughout the weekend.

No less than thirty-four cars have been entered for the second round of the FIA GT championship, with several ‘classics’ among them. Half of the cars that are entered this weekend will be racing in the GT1 category. In 2007 it was the Jetalliance Racing Aston Martin DBR9 of Karl Wendlinger and Ryan Sharp that won at Monza. In Silverstone they began their season with a victory so they could be seen as the number one candidate to repeat this at the Italian circuit.

The Austrian team will have a lot of opposition though as already at Silverstone they were fighting with the Gigawave Aston Martin DBR9 and the Phoenix Carsport Corvettes. In pre-season testing at Monza it was another Corvette that was quick, the Selleslagh Racing Team entered C6.R. Despite having won lots of races throughout its career the Maserati MC12 has not won at Monza so far. The four Vitaphone Racing Team drivers will try to break that ‘record’ and bring the Italian manufacturer victory on home soil.

No less than nine different types of cars are expected race in GT1 and they will combine the latest specs with some more classic ones. While at the front the Astons, Corvettes and Maserati’s will probably fight for first place the Monza round also marks the (temporary) return of a -nearly ancient- Chrysler Viper GTS-R, entered by Lanza Motorsport, and a Ferrari 575 Maranello, run by Kessel Racing, to the series. Both cars will join the already running Saleen S7Rs, Corvette C5-R, Ferrari 550 Maranello and Lamborghini Murcielago on the grid.

In the GT2 class there are only a few changes compared to the opening round at Silverstone. Chris Niarchos has handed over the wheel to Tim Sugden in the CR Scuderia Ferrari 430 while Italian Victor Racing will enter a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR for Monza.

At Silverstone AF Corse won the race, like they did at Monza in 2007, and the Amato Ferrari-owned team hopes to extend its winning streak during the first of two home races. Several GT2 drivers hope to use their recent experience from the recent Le Mans Series race during the Monza FIA GT round, but it will all depend on weather conditions . With lots of experienced drivers throughout the GT2 field several teams in for a win and it could be too close to call the winning squad before the weekend.

Under normal conditions it would be quite safe to say though that the Ferrari 430 GT would be the car to beat at Monza, but with the expected bad weather this could become a nice opportunity for one of the Prospeed Porsches to snatch the victory on Italian soil and after being disqualified at Silverstone Collard and Westbrook will be even more focussed on a top result.

The smallest category in FIA GT is the G2 championship. After missing out on nearly all the sessions due to scrutineering problems the GTO Charouz Racing crews are hoping for a smoother Italian round with the same outcome, victory. But ARC Bratislava, which had bad luck after losing a wheel in Britain, will also be after the win in G2.

All ingredients are there for a great race one of the most historic motor racing circuits in the world. The teams are evenly matched and therefore close to each other in both GT1 and GT2. On the quick circuit it will all depend on getting through the Prima Variante, driving skills and last but not least, the weather conditions.

The two-hour race will start on Sunday afternoon at 13:00 CET and can be followed live on ITV4 (UK), Sport1 (Holland), Sport+ (France) Sky Italia (Italy), DSF (Germany/Austria/Switzerland) and ESPN Star in Asia.