Perhaps surprisingly this weekend sees the first ever visit of the International GT Open to the Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit and a 27 car grid is in prospect for the Series’ Northamptonshire debut.
There are a number of changes to the entry list this time out – Rinaldi Racing is back with its Porsche after missing the Jerez round and the second Ombra Ferrari returns too. Sadly though the 911 RSR of Drivex Racing has withdrawn following the serious damage from fire suffered in Spain.
There are a number of new additions though to compensate:
Austria’s Lechner Racing is making its debut this year (after taking part in the Winter Series) with a Mercedes SLS for Walter Lechner and Mario Plachutta, while Seyffarth Motorsport is entering a second SLS for drivers to be confirmed.
Two all-British entries in the GTS category are the Ginetta G55 GT3 of Team LNT Ginetta for Mike Simpson and Lawrence Tomlinson and the Balfe Motorsport Ferrari F458 of James Swift – Shaun Balfe.
Team Rhino’s Leipert Motorsport are listed too, the first time that the German squad directed by Ingo Leipert has raced in the Series; their addition also seeing the return of a Lamborghini Gallardo to the series, which will be driven by Peter Kox and Fabian Hamprecht.
Silverstone traditionally suits cars with big power, so we’re likely to see the season-long duel between the Super GT class Ferraris and the Corvettes continue, with Montermini-Filippi (Villorba Ferrari) and Pastorelli-Ramos (V8 Corvette) fighting for the points lead.
In GTS, the fight is extremely close between the Seyffarth Mercedes (with Miguel Toril currently leading in the standings), the Ferraris, the Bhai Tech McLarens and the top Porsche GT3.
British fans will also be watching the progress of title contenders Duncan Cameron and Matt Griffin in their AF Corse Ferrari 458 GT2, and Michael Lyons, who shares a F458 GT3 of the same AF squad with Matteo Beretta.
DSC will be on site and providing words and pictures throughout the weekend.
In addition, Motors TV will be covering both of the Round 5 races this weekend. Mark Cole and Duncan Tappy will present the coverage, with Saturday’s Race 1 being live on Motors TV UK at 13.45 BST, and Sunday’s Race 2 delayed on Sunday at 14.45BST. Motors TV will also show Sunday’s second Maserati Trofeo race delayed at 16.30BST.
Entry List
1 AT Racing Alexander Talkanitsa sr/ Alexander Talkanitsa, jr Ferrari 458 GT Italia Super GT (GT2 FIA)
3 Scuderia Villorba Corse Andrea Montermini/ Luca Filippi Ferrari 458 GT Italia Super GT (GT2 FIA)
4 V8 Racing Miguel Ramos/ Nicky Pastorelli Chevrolet Corvette 7000 cc Super GT (GT2 OPEN)
7 V8 Racing Bert Longin/ Diederik Sijthoff Chevrolet Corvette 7000 cc Super GT (GT2 OPEN)
12 V8 Racing Jacky Camp/ Danny Werkman Chevrolet Corvette 7000 cc Super GT (GT2 OPEN)
21 AF Corse Matt Griffin/ Duncan Cameron Ferrari 458 GT Italia Super GT (GT2 FIA)
32 Team LNT Ginetta Lawrence Tomlinson/ Mike Simpson Ginetta G55 GT3 GTS
51 Kessel Racing Lorenzo Bontempelli/ Nicola De Marco Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
52 Kessel Racing Stephen Earle/ Freddy Kremer Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
53 Kessel Racing Jan Magnussen/ Johnny Laursen Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
54 AF Corse Michele Rugolo/ Claudio Sdanewitsch Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
55 AF Corse Michael Lyons/ Matteo Beretta Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
57 Autorlando Sport Isaac Tutumlu/ Dimitris Deverikos Porsche 997 GT3 R GTS
58 Autorlando Sport Jeroen Bleekemolen/ Emilio Di Guida Porsche 997 GT3 R GTS
59 Ombra Racing Joel Camathias/ Mario Cordoni Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
60 Ombra Racing Stefano Costantini/ Tbn Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
61 Seyffarth Motorsport Ranger v. der Zande/ Miguel Toril Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 GTS
62 Seyffarth Motorsport Kenneth Heyer/ Max Völker Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 GTS
63 SMP Racing -Russian Bears Roman Mavlanov/ Pol Rosell Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
64 SMP Racing -Russian Bears Kirill Ladygin/ Viacheslav Maleev Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
65 Bhai Tech Racing Giorgio Pantano/ Rafael Hideo Suzuki McLaren MP4 12C GT3 GTS
66 Bhai Tech Racing Luiz Razia/ Chris Van Der Drift McLaren MP4 12C GT3 GTS
68 Kessel Racing Francesco Castellacci/ Thomas Flohr Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
69 Rinaldi Racing Marco Seefried/ Vadim Kogay Porsche 997 GT3 R GTS
70 Lechner Racing Team Walter Lechner/ Mario Plachutta Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 GTS
73 Balfe Motorsport James Swift/ Shaun Balfe Ferrari 458 Italia GT3 GTS
74 Team Rhino’s Leipert Motorsport Peter Kox/ Fabian Hamprecht Lamborghini Gallardo GT3 GTS
