Reports

Pirri and Von Gartzen secure fifth win for Matech

© Planetlemans - Marcel ten Caat

Luca Pirri and Jürgen von Gartzen won the first race of the FIA GT3 European Championship at Oschersleben. Having started from the sixth row the number 19 Matech GT Racing Ford GT managed to stay out of trouble and take the lead after the mandatory pit stops. Von Gartzen finished it off and took the chequered flag in first place.

Going into the first corner pole man Christopher Haase was touched by one of the Brixia Racing Aston Martin DBRS9s sending it wide and starting the chaos. Alex Mortimer in the number 21 Matech Ford GT tried to take advantage of the situation but collected Haase’s Lamborghini and the Brixia Aston Martin and the damage from the hit forced Mortimer to park the car after just one turn. Championship leaders Ian Khan and Thomas Mutsch in the number 20 Matech GT Racing Ford GT joined them on the side of the track during the first lap.

At the first corner Thomas Accary and Luca Pirri swerved to the left and stayed clear of the mayhem there. They crossed the line in first and second place after one full lap. The Mühlner Motorsport Porsche of Tim Bergmeister was third, but was given a stop and go penalty soon afterwards for making a jumpstart. Behind the leaders the teams started to fight for position and while several cars went off Accary and Pirri raced each other.

Pirri already closed in on Accary and after the pit stops Jürgen von Gartzen finished the job by overtaking Pierre-Brice Mena some fifteen minutes before the end of the race. He would still be in front as the chequered flag came out. Behind the winner the battle for third place went on between Andrew Thompson in the Team Berlanga Ascari and Albert von Thurn Und Taxis in the Tech 9 Motorsport Lamborghini. The British driver was able to keep the German behind and handed Team Berlanga the third place.

Despite getting 140kg of ballast extra since this weekend the Ford GT was once again unbeatable. Even though the numbers 20 and 21 Ford GTs did not finish the third car was there to take the fifth win in as many races. In an equalisation test performed by Christophe Bouchut last night the Corvette was quicker, so it remains to be seen what the FIA GT Bureau will do this time.

The full results of the first race will follow later…