FFSA GT – Second Round – Ledenon - Qualifying

Qualifying Race One
The new qualifying schedule, four sessions of fifteen minutes, allowed all the drivers to more easily find a clear lap.

Olivier Dupard (Larbre 550 Maranello) was the first FFSA GT championship driver to set a significant lap time, Blanchemain (Larbre Viper), Bleynie (Mirabeau Viper) and Bordas (Mirabeau Viper) being on his tail. After a brief quiet period, all the drivers warming up their tyres, the lap times started to fall. Jean-Luc Blanchemain was the first on the provisional pole, ahead of Bornhauser (VBM Viper), and Dupard and Bera’s attempts.

Then, everyone was looking at David Hallyday (Force One Viper - right). The driver-singer set himself at the top of the time charts for race one with his second flying lap.

Romain Bera (PSI Porsche 996 Biturbo) was very happy with his new set-up, and he wanted to challenge Hallyday’s lap time. However, he pitted before the end of the session to save his tyres. Hallyday, with his impressive time, was watching from the pits the progress of his challengers. Blanchemain improved, but remained third quickest ahead of Gérard Bleynie who removed Bornhauser from the second row on his last lap.

Thierry Rabineau (Porsche 911 GT3 RS) was unchallenged in the N-GT category, setting the best lap time, far ahead of Demigneux (Lamborghini Diablo), Hugot (Porsche 911 GT3 RS ) and Signoret (Toyota Biturbo).

In the French Cup, Florian Boukobza was ahead of Peyroles, David and Dedours, the four drivers being behind the wheel of Porsche 996s.

Romain Bera: “The car is going well. I didn’t manage my tyres perfectly, and I didn’t succee in using all their potential. We may catch up Hallyday. I hope that the race will be as exciting as at Nogaro.”

Jean-Luc Blanchemain: “I’m very happy with my performance. We have been working with Sébastien Dumez, my partner, to see where I was losing some time. He gave me precious advice that I applied scrupulously. We are confident about the race, despite some braking distribution problems we have had since Nogaro, but we are going well and we’ll try to win this weekend. “

Qualifying Times Race 1
1 10 Force One HALLYDAY David BESSON Bruno Chrysler Viper GTS-R 1 GT 1 A 1:21.646 1 138.892
2 19 P S I Motorsport BERA Romain SOURD Marc Porsche 996 Bi Turbo 2 GT 2 A 1:21.834 1 0.188 138.573
3 2 Larbre Compétition BLANCHEMAIN Jean Luc DUMEZ Sébastien Chrysler Viper GTS-R 3 GT 3 A 1:22.588 1 0.942 137.308
4 4 MTO Mirabeau Compétition BLEYNIE Gérard LAGNIEZ Jean Claude Chrysler Viper GTS-R 4 GT 4 A 1:22.691 1 1.045 137.137
5 8 V B M BORNHAUSER Patrick THEVENIN Olivier Chrysler Viper GTS-R 5 GT 5 A 1:22.873 1 1.227 136.835
6 1 Larbre Compétition DUPARD Olivier GOUESLARD Patrice Ferrari 550 Maranello 6 GT 6 A 1:23.548 1 1.902 135.730
7 5 MTO Mirabeau Compétition HERNANDEZ Bruno ZANGARELLI Mathieu Chrysler Viper GTS-R 7 GT 7 A 1:23.834 1 2.188 135.267
8 3 MTO Mirabeau Compétition MOUREU Didier CAYROLLE Eric Chrysler Viper GTS-R 8 GT 8 A 1:23.975 1 2.329 135.040
9 12 Red Racing LESOUDIER Gaël VANNELET Gilles Chrysler Viper GTS-R 9 GT 9 A 1:24.092 1 2.446 134.852
10 17 P S I Motosport PRETTE Philippe MAXIMIN Olivier Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo 10 GT 10 A 1:24.762 1 3.116 133.786
11 11 Lease Plan Autovitesse LACROIX WASOVER Stéphane BELTOISE Anthony Chrysler Viper GTS--R 11 GT 11 A 1:24.829 1 3.183 133.680
12 30 Tarrès Team HAUCHARD Frédéric PORTA Olivier Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo 12 GT 12 A 1:25.886 1 4.240 132.035
13 7 D D O FIAT François DUPUY Dominique Saleen 13 GT 13 A 1:25.920 1 4.274 131.983
14 15 Nourry Compétition POLICE Jean Claude CAZENAVE Laurent Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo 14 GT 14 A 1:25.974 1 4.328 131.900
15 18 Tillie Compétition TILLIE Philippe CABANNES Georges Porsche 996 Bi-Turbo 15 GT 15 A 1:26.076 1 4.430 131.744
16 32 Nourry Compétition RABINEAU Thierry MOULLIN TRAFFORT Morgan Porsche 911 GT3 RS 1 NGT 1 A 1:26.770 1 5.124 130.690
17 20 D S M DEGLISE Jean Louis DAVID William Chrysler Viper GTS -R 16 GT 16 A 1:27.127 1 5.481 130.154
18 6 MTO Mirabeau Compétition BORDAS Alain HERBERT Patrick Chrysler Viper GTS-R 17 GT 17 A 1:27.156 1 5.510 130.111
19 63 Nourry Compétition BOUKOBZA Florian MENARD Julien Porsche 996 Cup 1 C1 1 B 1:27.201 1 5.555 130.044
20 67 S P I D PEYROLES Arnaud RUMPLER Erick Porsche 996 Cup 2 C1 2 B 1:27.272 1 5.626 129.938
21 36 Riverside DEMIGNEUX Michel DEMIGNEUX Christian Lamborghini Diablo GTR 2 NGT 2 A 1:27.305 1 5.659 129.889
22 31 Ruffier Racing HUGOT Pascal MEDARD Jacques Porsche 911 GT3 RS 3 NGT 3 A 1:27.412 1 5.766 129.730
23 33 Trans Euro Route SIGNORET Jean Pierre GHISLAIN Thimothée Toyota Bi-Turbo 4 NGT 4 A 1:27.901 1 6.255 129.008
24 76 IMSA - Challenge 86 DAVID Yannick NARAC Raymond Porsche 996 Cup 3 C1 3 B 1:28.156 1 6.510 128.635
25 64 Nourry Compétition DEDOURS Frédéric MAKOWIECKI Frédéric Porsche 996 Cup 4 C1 4 B 1:28.187 1 6.541 128.590
26 65 Centre Porsche Lorient ANCEL Frédéric GOUBET Philippe Porsche 996 Cup 5 C1 5 B 1:28.201 1 6.555 128.569
27 69 B L R T GUITARD Johnny REY André Porsche 996 Cup 6 C1 6 B 1:28.381 1 6.735 128.308
28 80 Riverside CHARRIOL Philippe LOGER David Lamborghini Diablo GTR 1 C2 1 B 1:29.005 1 7.359 127.408
29 82 Lease Plan Autovitesse PAPPOLLA Jean Michel SOMMEREAU Didier Lamborghini Diablo GTR 2 C2 2 B 1:29.343 1 7.697 126.926
30 71 Défi Cup VAISSIERE Eric GAU Patrick Porsche 996 Cup 7 C1 7 B 1:29.357 1 7.711 126.906
31 35 Ruffier Racing MEDICI Roland RUFFIER James Porsche 911 GT3-RS 5 NGT 5 A 1:29.829 1 8.183 126.239
32 79 Ruffier Racing LACROIX Pascal LEPREUX Christian Porsche 996 Cup 8 C1 8 B 1:30.510 1 8.864 125.290
33 68 First Racing TUCHBANT David GIROIX Fabien Porsche 996 Cup 9 C1 9 B 1:30.753 1 9.107 124.954
34 37 Riverside BERTAPELLE Patricia BENTIVOGLIO Christophe Lamborghini Diablo GTRS 6 NGT 6 A 1:31.069 1 9.423 124.520
35 77 IMSA - VCA LELIEVRE Frédéric POLETTE Philippe Porsche 996 Cup 10 C1 10 B 1:32.818 1 11.172 122.174
36 34 D D O MOUEZ Eric PRUNET Cyril Porsche 911 GT3 RS 7 NGT 7 A 1:32.887 1 11.241 122.083
37 62 Ruffier Racing MOREAU Yann BAUDOIN Michel Porsche 996 Cup 11 C1 11 B 1:33.839 1 12.193 120.845
38 66 G C R CLAIRAY Guy LAURIN Jérome Porsche 996 Cup 12 C1 12 B 1:41.555 1 19.909 111.663

Qualifying Race 2
The top-seeded drivers came onto the track last in this new look qualifying format. The VBM Viper of the French Championship leaders, driven by Olivier Thévenin, set the tone at first.

The top charts were changing incessantly, with a strong fight between Beltoise (Lease Plan Autovitesse Viper), Zangarelli (Mirabeau Viper), Dumez (Larbre Viper) and Besson (Force One Viper). William David (DSM Viper), still learning at the wheel of the #20 Viper, joined this fight, being second quickest whereas Dominique Dupuy (DDO Saleen) was waiting quietlly in the pits. The Saleen driver was sixth quickest after his first attempt, but had an off in the triple left corner, slightlydamaging the front of his car.

So William David claimed the provisional pole before Anthony Beltoise brought things to a head. The Lease Plan Autovitesse driver improved his times on each lap, setting a pole much appreciated by Michel Duvernay’s team, ahead of David, Dumez and Zangarelli.

In the N-GT category, there was a strong fight between Morgan Moullin-Traffort, James Ruffier and Christian Demigneux. Moullin-Traffort was again quickest, whereas Cyril Prunet could match the pace, suffering braking problems.

In the French Cup, David Loger (Riverside Lamborghini) was ahead of Fabien Giroix and Julien Ménard.

Antony Beltoise : “This pole is very nice for us. I knew thanks to our winter testing that we could be going well. However we must admit that we were very disappointed at Nogaro. Yesterday during the practice session we did a lot of hard work and we chose the right technical option. This pole is most important for the team because we are not doubtful any more 9about our pace).“

William David: “The Viper is very nice to drive. It is my first qualifying session with this car, I was surprised a bit by my tyres. We just missed the pole, but it is nice to be on the front row. There are some top drivers behind me, I’ll have to be very careful.”

(Race two qualifying times to be added, if we can find them! Race 1 report later on Saturday)
Claude Foubert