While a lot of expectation ahead of the newt round of the International GT Open relate to the new venue, Misano, the main focus will remain on track action and the championship, which, after a spectacular GT Open 500 endurance race at Spa, has reached full cruise speed. The grid, with 29 cars entered, will again offer quantity and quality.
PRO: 10 CARS AND FOUR DIFFERENT BRANDS IN THE TOP FOUR
The double points awarded at the first longer race at Spa have yielded a clear leader: strong of their success in Belgium and of two second finishes in the season-opener, Christian Mansell and Maxi Götz, at the wheel of the Motopark Mercedes AMG, have a 12-point lead in the standings on the Elite Motorsport Ferrari 296 of young Brits Tom Emson and Tom Lebbon, who will be chasing their first success of the year.
There will be two interesting new entries on the Romagna track, with two familiar names returning to the series. Oman’s Al Manar Racing, now in technical partnership with Dragon Racing, is entering a Ferrari 296 for former Vice Champion Al Faisal Al Zubair and local star David Fumanelli, in the first of the three appearances scheduled for this year. GetSpeed is also back for a one-off, with one of its Mercedes entrusted to the well-known duo composed of Anthony Bartone and Fabian Schiller, the latter fresh from a win at the Nürburgring 24.
PRO-AM: 11 CARS AND A PORSCHE LEADING
The always competitive and well-attended Pro-Am class will see 11 cars on track at Misano, with six car brands represented. Currently leading the standings in the Porsche of Fach Auto Tech, with two race wins to his credit. At Misano, Alexander Fach will be associated with Lucas Wolf, who has already competed for the Swiss squad at Spa in its other car. With the Blackthorn Aston Martin (on equal points in the standings) absent in this round, the Swiss have a good opportunity to score heavy points in Italy.
Third in the standings is the excellent Saintéloc Racing Audi R8 LMS ultra of Michaël Blanchemain-Jim Pla, with the German maker’s colours well defended also by the ISR Racing car of Libor Milota-Filip Salaquarda.
Ferrari is the constructor with the most cars in the class: AF Corse has two cars for Laurent de Meeus-Vincent Abril and Norikazu Shibata-Charlie Fagg, Olimp Racing enters its regular Marcin Jedlinski-Karol Basz pair, and Into Africa Racing by Dragon is present with Xolile Letlaka-Axcil Jefferies.
Mercedes’ hopes are well defended by Dexter Müller-Yannick Mettler (CBRX by SPS), while Andrei Borodin-Oliver Webb (Greystone GT) and Darren and James Kell (Track Focused) will sport the McLaren flag. Last but not least, after an impressive debut at Spa, Polish outfit PTT Racing will aim at shining again with its BMW M4 Evo entrusted to Hubert Darmetko-Fabian Dybionka.
AM: 8 CARS AND A PORSCHE-FERRARI TIE AT THE TOP
The Am class is particularly closely fought and well attended this season. With 8 cars entered, Misano will again see a great show. At the top of the standings, it’s a very tight provisional podium. Leading the standings, tied on 32 points, are the Fach Auto Tech Porsche of Joel Monegro and the AF Corse Ferrari of Brazilians Marcelo Hahn-Galid Osman (pictured below). The Dominican driver has won at Spa, while the Brazilian pair took a win at the Algarve. Very close, only two points behind, is the father-and-son pair of Andrzej and Adrian Lewandowski, in the Baron Motorsport Ferrari, with the Poles having also a race in their credit.
