Isotta Fraschini to reveal Tipo 6 LMH ‘Pista’
Isotta Fraschini Milano is set to give a public debut to the second version of its ‘Tipo 6’ Hypercar as part of SRO’s GT1 Sports Club sessions at Paul Ricard’s GT World Challenge event this weekend.
The Tipo 6 Pista is the track-only version of the car with a third, roadgoing ‘Stradale’ version still to be unveiled.
Unlike the Tipo 6 LMH Competizione, however, it will not have to comply with FIA WEC regulations and so can run its 3.0L V6 engine in unrestricted form, and can run with lower weight too.
The ‘Pista’ will have over 1000 bhp across the engine and hybrid power and will weigh under 1000 kg.
56 cars for GT4 European Series at Paul Ricard
The GT4 European Series heads to Southern France for the second event of the season at Circuit Paul Ricard this weekend, the full-season entry joined by competitors from the GT4 Scandinavia series bringing the total entry to an impressive 56 entries!
24 cars will battle for Silver points., all eyes will be on the crews in the Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport #2 BMW M4 GT4 and the #12 BMW from Borusan Otomotiv.
After Michael Schrey and Gabriele Piana’s dominant display of speed at Monza, securing an impressive third place and an outright win in the opening races in Italy, they will be looking to confirm their superiority in France. Berkay Besler and Tom Edgar in the #12 BMW will attempt to do just the same, following closely in the rankings after a solid double podium finish, once 2nd and once 3rd overall, last month at Monza.
Pro-Am:
After racking up a win and a second place in the opening weekend, Saintéloc Junior Team’s Grégory Guilvert and Christophe Hamon will head to their home country’s event bursting with confidence. But their #42 Audi R8 LMS GT4 will have plenty of strong competition including Safronov/Vaintrub in NM Racing Team’s Mercedes-AMG GT4 & Julien and Florian Briche in the JSB Competition Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4.
Am class:
No class ranking was as clearly defined as the one in Am over the first weekend. Julien Piguet and Alban Varutti secured both opening wins in the AVR-Avvatar #10 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS CS. And on both occasions, they found Laurent Hurgon and Alain Ferté on the next podium step, finishing second twice in the #55 Autosport GP LS Group Performance Alpine A110 GT4 EVO. We may have a clear leader and runner-up heading into Race 3 and 4, but GPA Racing has already shown their Aston Martin Vantage AMR GT4 is capable of some serious speed, and so has W&D Racing Team with the BMW M4 GT4.
GT4 Scandinavia brings eight cars, all of which will be numbered on the 200 series, for the first of two joint race weekends in 2023 (they will also race at Spa).
Going into the second weekend of the series, it is Afab Racing’s #288 McLaren Artura GT4 that leads the ranks in GT4 Scandinavia, followed by the #290 Toyota GR Supra GT4 Evo of Toyota Gazoo Racing Sweden and the #298 BMW M4 GT4 run by M-Bilar Group Racing.
Adam Christodoulou joins Bartone Bros Racing
Adam Christodoulou will join Bartone Bros Racing with RealTime as a co-driver with Anthony Bartone for the team’s remaining GT World Challenge America races starting at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), June 16-18.
“Adam will be a great addition to the team,” Andy Pilgrim, Bartone Bros Racing driver and team advisor, said. “We entered 2023 knowing it would be a dynamic year for Anthony. He was very comfortable in the Mercedes-AMG GT3 from our first test at Sebring back in January. After his performance at St. Pete, we immediately added us to the SRO Fanatec GT World Challenge America series, to get him more track time. He has done a superb job running in the Am class and now is a good time to step up to Pro Am; that’s where Adam Christodoulou comes in. I first met Adam back in 2017 while competing in the Nürburgring 24h and when his name came up as available, we jumped at the chance. The goal is to keep Anthony learning at the same pace, by continuing to hone his race craft at the highest levels of competition. The Pro-Am class is the perfect place to do just that.
“Adam is not only a fast driver who knows the Mercedes-AMG GT3 car, he’s also a great instructor who can communicate what the car is doing and what Anthony needs to do to keep progressing behind the wheel.”
Bartone has a race win to his credit this year at Sonoma Raceway in GT America and is excited to compete for podiums in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Pro-Am category.
“My dad (Tony) and I rely on Andy to guide us in this sports car racing world,” Bartone said. “Andy has been there from my very first time on any racetrack, in a stick shift Corvette street car, back in Bowling Green, Ky. His patience, professionalism, and friendship has brought me a long way over the last two years and I’m ready for this next step and very excited to work with Adam at VIR.”
7TSIX confirms late GT Cup Championship entry
7TSIX has posted a late race entry for the GT Cup Championship event at Snetterton this weekend. Ian Loggie, will be aired with Logan Hannah, at the wheel of the team’s McLaren 720S GT3.
Fresh from testing programmes at both Spa-Francorchamps and Circuit Paul Ricard this week, the 7TSIX team will take part in their second GT Cup meeting of the year, after contesting, with Loggie, the season opener.
The reigning British GT champion is joined by 21-year-old single-seater racer Logan Hannah for the weekend for her GT3 debut.
“It has been a busy week for the team, running two different cars in two different countries as we make final preparations for the McLaren Trophy and the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa. Alongside these new challenges for the team, I am really pleased to welcome Ian back and to be working with Logan as she sets out in a new direction with her racing. She joined us recently for a test in the McLaren and we were all incredibly impressed by her focus and ability after just a few laps, and I think she will learn a lot from being paired up with Ian, who is hugely experienced.
“The GT Cup format is a great environment for a first real-world run out, as the amount of track time available over the weekend gives a great chance to build up mileage and experience in the car. However, we know the racing will be as intense as ever, so it will be a steep learning curve. Ian is continuing to gain experience with the McLaren, and making big steps forward each time he gets in the car, so I think they will be a formidable partnership over the weekend. Looking forward seeing what they can achieve,” explained Joe Edge, 7TSIX team owner.
