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International GT Open - Round 5 - Circuit Paul Ricard

18th - 20th July 2025

Event report and photos by Raymond Bonnello

The International GT Open returned to the Paul Ricard Circuit in Le Castellet for one last round before the summer break.

This round was the fifth, which marks the beginning of the second half of the season.

This year again, many fans and holiday-makers were expected, especially on Saturday, with Race 1 scheduled for late afternoon. Spectators could join the circuit's summer rooftop party after the race.

Qualifying 1, Driver 1

Late Saturday morning saw the first qualifying session with the drivers 1 at the wheel, which will establish the starting grid for the 70-minute Race 1, scheduled for the same evening.

Best time in 2:00.565 Fabian Schiller (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #9 - GetSpeed) will put his name at the top of the timesheet, taking overall pole, ahead of Maximilian Götz (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #11 - Team Motopark) by 0.464s.

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First in the PROAM category is Karol Basz (Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #777 - Olimp Racing) with the third fastest time overall in 2:01.265.

Mark Sansom (McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #188 - Garage 59) will finish 18th, but more importantly, on pole in the AM category.

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Race 1

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At the start, Fabian Schiller, on pole position, maintained his lead, while Karol Basz overtook Maximilian Götz (but had to surrender the position outside the track limits). In the middle of the pack, Steve Jans (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #6 - GetSpeed) hit Simon Reicher (Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #1 - Eastalent Racing), who spun.

The Luxembourger received a 10-second penalty.

As the driver change window opened, Leonardo Pulcini (Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 #19 - Oregon Team), after fiercely defending his fourth position, was forced to surrender to Tom Lebbon (Ferrari 296 GT3 #17 - Elite Motorsport).

At the close of the change window, Anthony Bartone (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #9 - GetSpeed) was 1.7s ahead of Levente Revesz (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #11 - Team Motopark).

The latter took the lead on lap 30 and held on, finishing 3.555s ahead of Anthony Bartone.

Tommaso Mosca (Ferrari 296 GT3 #51 - AF Corse) crossed the finish line in third place.

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Valentin Pierburg (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #20 - SPS Automotive Performance) will take victory in PROAM.

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Michele Rugolo (Ferrari 296 GT3 #21 - AF Corse) wins in AM.

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Qualifying 2, Driver 2

Tommaso Mosca will emerge as the fastest driver in qualifying for Race 2, setting a time of 2:00.723.

The Italian will share the front row with Ralf Aron (#82 Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO - GetSpeed).

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Axcil Jefferies (#88 Ferrari 296 GT3 - Into Africa Racing by Dragon) will take pole in PROAM with his 4th fastest time overall.

Krystian Korzeniowski (#5 Ferrari 296 GT3 - Olimp Racing) will take pole in AM.

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Race 2

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Tommaso Mosca maintained his lead at the start, but was briefly overtaken by Ralf Aron, who cut the first corner and handed him the position. Axcil Jefferies was third ahead of Michael Porter (#4 Optimum Motorsport McLaren 720S GT3 EVO) and Christopher Haase (Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #1 - Eastalent Racing).

Ameerh Naran (#108 Vimana by GetSpeed Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO) did not start due to engine failure.

Tommaso Mosca's lead reached 2.5s on lap 4, just before Ralf Aron suffered a puncture, while Christopher Haase overtook Michael Porter for third place.

After all the stops (lap 17), Carl Bennett (Ferrari 296 GT3 #51 - AF Corse) leads by 9 seconds over Zac Meakin (McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #4 - Optimum Motorsport), 12s over Xollie Letlaka (Ferrari 296 GT3 #88 - Into Africa Racing by Dragon) and James Kell (McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #33 - Greystone GT).

The end of the race was eventful, first when Johannes Zelger (Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) #79 - Tsunami RT) collided with Libor Milota (Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #75 - Team ISR), then on the last lap when the group caught Dominik Baumann (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #20 - SPS Automotive Performance).

Hash (Porsche 911 GT3 R (992) #31 - Car Collection Motorsport) violently collided with the Mercedes at the Mistral chicane, sending it into the barriers, fortunately without consequences for the drivers.

These incidents had no impact on the top 10, with Carl Bennett finishing 8.711s ahead of Zac Meakin.

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Timo Rumpfkeil (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #65 - Team Motopark) won in PROAM and Gino Forgione (Ferrari 296 GT3 #21 - AF Corse) in AM.

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At the end of this mid-season round, Levente Revesz (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #11 - Team Motopark)leads the championship with a seven-point lead over Simon Reicher-Christopher Haase (Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #1 - Eastalent Racing) and two points ahead of Tom Emson and Tom Lebbon (Ferrari 296 GT3 #17 - Elite Motorsport).

In PROAM, Steve Jans and Aaron Walker (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #6 - GetSpeed) lead with 65 points, ahead of Dominik Baumann and Valentin Pierburg (Mercedes AMG GT3 EVO #20 - SPS Automotive Performance), two points behind. Filip Salaquarda and Libor Milota (Audi R8 LMS GT3 EVO II #75 - Team ISR) complete the provisional podium with 44 points.

In AM, Michele Rugolo and Gino Forgione (Ferrari 296 GT3 #21 - AF Corse) have 88 points, ahead of Mark Sansom (McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #188 - Garage 59) (80 points) and Alexander West (McLaren 720S GT3 EVO #188 - Garage 59)(42).

Team Motopark (64 points) is ahead of Eastalent Racing (58) and GetSpeed (41).

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GT Cup Europe

Another GT category was present at the Paul Ricard circuit this weekend: the GT Cup Europe.

Two races were scheduled.

In the first, the Pietro Armanni/Ludovico Longoni crew (Porsche 992 GT3 Cup #22 - ZRS Motorsport) took the top spot, ahead of Luca Franca/Ian Rodríguez (Porsche 992 GT3 Cup #91 - FAEMS Team Srl) and Laura Van den Hengel/Paul Meijer (Porsche 992 GT3 Cup #7 - Burgers Motorsport by Hans Weijs Motorsport) completed the podium.

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Race 2 will be won by Luca Franca/Ian Rodríguez 9.553s ahead of Laura Van den Hengel/Paul Meijer.

Gonçalo Fernandes/Lars Zaenen (Porsche 992 GT3 Cup #53 - Q1-trackracing) will not be on the third step of the box.

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Based on International GT Open press report.