GT-Tour 2014 – Round 2 –Ledenon – France
The track
The circuit of Ledenon is situated in the South of France, in the department of the Gard.
Approved since June 16th, 1973, of a 3 150 meters length, as the most hilly, 34.40 meters difference in height, the most sinuous and the most technical of the French circuits, it has the particularity to turn counterclockwise.
Summary of the previous episode
After the opening of the season in Le Mans on the circuit Bugatti, in April, which saw the victory of Henry Hassid / Mike Parisy (Sébastien Loeb Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra #51) in race 1 of Championship Jean-Claude Police / Soheil Ayari (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #9) on race 2 .
Arriving this weekend of May 31st /June 1st to Ledenon for the second round of the GT-Tour 2014. It's the Henry Hassid / Mike Parisy pair that is leading the championship with 35 points before the Jean-Claude Police / Soheil Ayari pair that with 33 points.
In the French Cup it is the pair Gilles Duqueine / Philippe Colançon (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #350) which is in the lead after these two victories.
Free Practice Session
Five practice sessions saw successively, Philippe Giauque / Morgan Moullin Traffort (Team Sofrev ASP - Ferrari 458 Italia #1) session 1, Henry Hassid / Mike Parisy (Sébastien Loeb Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra #51) session 2, Jean-Luc Beaubelique / Ludovic Badey (Sofrev ASP - Ferrari 458 Italia #20) session 3 and Roland Bervillé / Anthony Beltoise (Sébastien Loeb Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra #50) sessions 4 and 5, at the top of the sheet of timing.
qualifying round 1
Raymond Narac (IMSA Performance Matmut - Porsche 911 GT3 R #76) on the unique Porsche 911 GT3 R in this GT-Tour win the pole position in race 1 by preceding David Hallyday (Saintéloc Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra N 42) of 0.265 second.
In the French Cup, Gilles Duqueine (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #350) outdistances Marc Sourd (Saintéloc Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra #43).
qualifying round 2
The second session of qualification sees Sebastien Loeb Racing monopolizing the first line under the eyes of nine-time world champion of the rallies come participate in the races of Supertourism. Anthony Beltoise outdistances Parisy Mike of 0.087 second.
In Cup Philippe Colançon (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #350) finished in front of Thomas Nicolle (Classic & Modern Racing - BMW Z4 #21)
Race report
Exceptionally, because preliminary tests of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the both races of the Weekend will take place on Saturday afternoon. Some drivers and team manager must be in Le Mans Sunday.
Race 1 Saturday 05/30 13:00
Starting from pole, Raymond Narac realizes the perfect start before David Halliday, followed by Gilles Vannellet (Sport Garage – Ferrari 458 Italia #4), and Eric Debard (Sofrev-ASP - Ferrari 458 Italia #10) and Philippe Giauque. The leader widens the gap. Making a small error David Hallyday finds himself in 9th position.
In the 12th round at the turn of the Carrierrasse Henry Hassid made one spun around, Tony Samon (GSE by DKR Engineering - BMW Z4 #7) cannot avoid him and collides him, wanting to release he was again hit by Laurent Coubard (Classic & Modern Racing - Mercedes SLS AMG #22).This incident will cause the relinquishment of three cars. Just before the half-hour race the competitors enters in the pits for the driver change. Always in head Raymond Narac gives his place to Nicolas Armindo who leaves with about ten second ahead of Morgan Moullin Traffort. After one hour of running without any fault the crew Raymond Narac / Nicolas Armindo won the race with 5 seconds ahead of Philippe Giauque / Morgan Moullin Traffort and Eric Debard / Olivier Panis to 12 seconds.
In the French Cup we attend at the victory of Pierre Hirschi / Thomas Nicolle (Classic & Modern Racing - BMW Z4 #21) before Fabrice Rossello / Gilles Lallement (Saintéloc Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra #44).
Race 2 Saturday 05/30 18:35
Anthony Beltoise, the pole man, realizes an ideal departure. Soheil Ayari (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #9), second on the starting line after the penalty received by the Audi # 51, is overtaken by Nicolas Armindo and Olivier Panis.
A fight then ensued between these three men. Soheil Ayari successively passes these two opponents to regain second position. The pit stops to change drivers that do not disrupt the classification. Laurent Coubard (Classic & Modern Racing - Mercedes SLS AMG #22) is then the victim of a violent and spectacular exit track just after taking the wheel. He gets by with a big scare. Roland Bervillé still dominates the race before Jean-Claude Police (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #9) and Eric Debard, behind David Hallyday and Raymond Narac engage an intense battle that sees Raymond Narac from head to tail. Eric Debard makes also a fault offering the third place to David Hallyday. After one hour of racing, Roland Bervillé / Anthony Beltoise win in front of Jean-Claude Police / Soheil Ayari and David Hallyday / Grégory Guilvert.
In the French Cup, the pair Gilles Duqueine / Philippe Colançon (Team Duqueine - Ferrari 458 Italia #350) wins its third victory in four races. Fabrice Rossello / Gilles Lallement took second place ahead of Marc Soud / Jean-Paul Buffin (Saintéloc Racing - Audi R8 LMS Ultra #43).
In the evening, we shall learn that crews #9 and #10 receive a penalty of 30 seconds.
This will allow David Hallyday / Grégory Guilvert to get on the second step of the podium and Eric Cayrolle / Arno Santamato (Sport Garage - Ferrari 458 Italia #3) to join it.
At the end of this meeting Raymond Narac / Nicolas Armindo are leading the championship with 8 points ahead of David Hallyday / Grégory Guilvert and 9 on Jean-Claude Police / Soheil Ayari .
In the French Cup Gilles Duqueine / Philippe Colançon does not find himself more than with 2 points ahead of Pierre Hirschi / Thomas Nicolle.
Support Races
Porsche Race
Peugeot Race
Supetourisme Race
Mitjet 2.0
