GT-Tour 2014 – seventh and last round - Circuit Paul Ricard – France
The track
The Circuit Paul Ricard located in the south of France. Inaugurated on April 19th, 1970 the circuit Paul Ricard, 3.793 km in length and 13 turns.
the context
As we approach of the final, this weekend on the circuit of Paul Ricard, four crews can claim the title of champion of France 2014!
Henry HASSID ‐ Mike PARISY (Audi R8LMS Ultra - Sébastien Loeb Racing - # 50),Raymond NARAC ‐ Nicolas ARMINDO (Porsche 911 GT3 R - IMSA Performance Matmut - #76), Philippe GIAUQUE ‐ Morgan MOULLIN TRAFFORT (Ferrari 458 Italia - Team Sofrev ASP - #1), David HALLYDAY ‐ Grégory GUILVERT (Audi R8LMS Ultra - Saintéloc Racing - #42).
In the French Cup Gilles DUQUEINE - Philippe COLANCON (Ferrari 458 Italia - Team Duqueine - #350), Pierre HIRSCHI - Thomas NICOLLE (BMW Z4-Classic and Modern Racing - #21) are separated by only 23 points.
To note the presence, for this ultimate round, of Olivier Pla - Eric Clement (BMW Z4 - TDS Racing - #46), Mario Plachutta - Thomas Jäger (Mercedes SLS - Plachutta Racing Team - #66), Christian RIED - Matthieu VAXIVIERE (Porsche 911 GT3 R - Team Martinet by Almeras - #33), Cédric MEZAR - Philippe DARROBIO (Porsche 911 GT3 R - Team Martinet by Almeras - #34),Julien GOUJAT - Florent PETIT (Audi R8 LMS - Team Tech Auto by Exclus - #83), Christian PHILIPPON - Franck LABESCAT (GM Sport - ChryslerViper GTS-R - #17) and Duqueine engineering with Ange Barde and Olivier Grotz (Ferrari 458 Italia - Team Duqueine - #888).
Off championship and off podium Solution F will run the "Supersport" a new concept based on a car that enjoying great success in Sweden Touring Car Championship, it adopts the look of a BMW M3 #100 , drove by Jean-Philippe Belloc and Stephane Pourquie.
That announces fascinating last meeting.
The GT-Tour have not forgotten Jules Bianchi.
Free practices
These first three sessions were dominated by the Ferrari 458 Italia. Arno Santamato / Eric Cayrolle (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Sport Garage - #3), Fabien Barthez / Gregoire Demoustier (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3-Sofrev-ASP - #22) and Morgan Moullin-Traffort / Philippe Giauque (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Sofrev-ASP - #1) were respectively the fastest of sessions 1, 2 and 3.
Mario Plachutta / Thomas Jäger (Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 - Plachutta Racing Team - #66) have took the fourth session.
The final session played on Saturday morning was again dominated by Morgan Moullin-Traffort / Philippe Giauque.
In the “Coupe de France” the Ferrari of Duqueine Engineering have awarded all the sessions.
Qualifying 1: Ferrari on pole
This session of qualification devolved to the amateurs is initially dominated by Mario Plachutta. Until Henry Hassid (Audi R8 LMS Ultra - Sébastien Loeb Racing - # 51) grabs the best time.
Further a head to tail of Christian Ried (Porsche 911 GT3 R - #33) race management out the red flag. After the interruption, Ferrari attacked the restart with renewed vigor. It is finally Philippe Giauque who realizes the pole position followed by Jean-Luc Beaubelique (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Sofrev-ASP - #20). The top five is completed by Henry Hassid, Mario Plachutta et Gilles Vannelet (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Sport Garage - #4).
In “Coupe de France” Philippe Colançon (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Duqueine Engineering - #350) make the pole.
Qualifying 2: Audi faster
Until the mid-session, Nicky Catsburg (BMW Z4 - DKR Engineering - # 7) is at the top of the timesheets.
Olivier Panis (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Sofrev-ASP - #10), the winner of the GP of Monaco 1996, took the lead of this second session thinks of having made the hardest when Anthony Beltoise (Audi R8 LMS Ultra - Sébastien Loeb Racing - #50) improves in some minutes of the end. The top five is completed by Nicolas Armindo (Porsche 911 GT3 R – IMSA Performance-Matmut # 76), Olivier Pla (BMW Z4 – TDS Racing - #46) and Morgan Moullin-Traffort.
In “Coupe de France” Olivier Grotz (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Duqueine Engineering - #888) outdistance Thomas Nicolle (BMW Z4 - Classic & Modern Racing - #21)
Race 1: Saturday, October 25th
For safety reasons, the first two turns are neutralized, the real star tis given on line of the Mistral straight.The poleman, Philippe Giauque preserves the first rank followed by Jean-Luc Beaubelique, Mario Plachutta, Henry Hassid and Gilles Vannelet. At the end of this first lap Mario Plachutta makes one head to tail and fall in the 16th position.
Gilles Lallement (Audi R8 LMS Ultra - Saintéloc - # 44) having hit Stéphane Pourquie (BMW Supersport - Solution F - # 100) the safety car entered for around ten minutes.
At the restart, Jean-Luc Beaubelique concedes four places, Henry Hassid pass second. The battle rages in the pack between David Hallyday (Audi R8 LMS Ultra - Saintéloc - # 42), Eric Clement (BMW Z4 - TDS Racing - # 46) and Eric Debard (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Sofrev-ASP - # 10) one hand and Gilles Vannelet and Raymond Narac (Porsche 911 GT3 R - IMSA Performance Matmut # 76) of the other one.
At the opening of the window of the driver change, Philippe Giauque is still leading, before Henry Hassid and Raymond Narac. Nicolas Armindo, account held the handicaps time, goes out in leader in front of Laurent Cazenave (McLaren MP4 / 12 C - GSE by DKR - 8), Arno Santamato and Gregoire Demoustier.
Nicolas Armindo, after a breathless race, crossed the finish line triumphantly in front Arno Santamato followed for third place on the podium by Morgan Moullin Traffort.
In "Coupe de France" the victory is for Gilles Duqueine (Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - Duqueine Engineering - # 350) in front of Olivier Grotz.
Further to the technical controls cars 9 and 8 will be downgraded.
Sunday's race promises to be thrilling with three teams still in concurrence for the title Mike Parisy / Hendy Hassid (173 points), Raymond Narac / Nicolas Armindo (167 points) as well as David Hallyday / Grégory Guilvert (155 points).
Race 2 : Sunday, October 26th
Taking advantage of his pole position Anthony Beltoise realizes the perfect start. He leads in front of Olivier Panis and Nicolas Armindo. In the third lap Anthony Beltoise's car, is a victim of a puncture. Olivier Panis is leading pursued by Nicolas Armindo and Morgan Moullin-Traffort. After 10 minutes, Olivier Pla then fourth is pushed by another competitor at the turn of the bridge. Party back of the grid, Mike Parisy made a dazzling comeback.
The fight is intense in the lead. Morgan Moullin-Traffort overtakes Olivier Panis in the braking of 'la bretelle' to take the lead just before the twentieth minute. At half hour of the race, Mike Parisy returned to the tenth position will be the first to return to the pits for the driver change. Jean-Claude Police goes out in head in front of Gilles Vannelet and Eric Debard. Gilles Vannelet took the lead of the race when it remains only twenty minutes before the checkered flag. Henry Hassid as a few ranks back, and goes to 10th place. In his fight for the title, it collides with Philippe Giauque and will be punished a few minutes later, losing any chance for the title.
After standing up to these opponents, Gilles Vannelet associated with Enzo Guibbert wins for the first time this season. He precedes Debard Eric and David Hallyday. Nicolas Armindo and Raymond Narac fifth of the final race in 2014 are crowned champion of France, succeeding Morgan Moullin-Traffort / Fabien Barthez. Finally tenth Henry Hassid / Mike Parisy are vices-champions 2 points of the champions.
In 'Coupe de France' Ange Barde and Olivier Grotz wins before Nicolle Thomas / Pierre Hirschi. The members of Classic & Modern Racing won the Cup before Gilles Duqueine / Philippe Colançon.
Duqueine / Colançon titled GT Coupe de France following a blunder.
The French « Coupe de France » changes champions two weeks after the final ran at Paul Ricard.
The 2014 title was initially won by Pierre Hirschi and Thomas Nicolle (Classic & Modern Racing - BMW Z4 GT3 #21), but the tandem sees finally pipped at the post by Gilles Philippe and Duqueine Colançon (Duqueine Engineering - Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 - #350) further to an error of counting of points.
Whether it is in Championship or in Cup the titles were awarded only during the ultimate race, what reflects the intensity of this season.
other races
Porsche Carrera Cup France
F4 Championship
atmosphere and entertainment
See you in 2015.
calendar
17, 18 & 19 April Ledenon
1, 2 & 3 May Le Mans - Circuit Bugatti
19, 20 & 21 June Spa-Francorchamps
3, 4 & 5 July Val de Vienne
28, 29 & 30 August Magny Cours
25, 26 & 27 September Navarra Spain
23, 24 & 25 October Circuit Paul Ricard