Reigning Champs Take First 2025 Win At Landmark 300th GT Open Race

With a perfect race from pole to the chequered flag in Sunday’s race at the Hungaroring, Christopher Haase and Simon Reicher took a well-deserved first win of 2025 in the 300th race of the GT Open.

The reigning champions, in the Eastalent Racing Audi, now take the lead in the overall standings of the series.

“At last! This weekend we really had a perfect car. It’s nice to be back on the highest step of the podium, and to do it here in front of a big and enthusiastic crowd and a special race such as the 300th of the series. It’s because of days like this that we like motorsport!”

Second overall was the young pair of the AF Corse Ferrari composed of Carl Bennett and Tommaso Mosca, with local hero Levente Révész, together with Phil Ellis, finishing third in the Motopark Mercedes and keeping his title options open, despite losing the lead. The gap, though remains very narrow: 4 points.

Steve Jans and Aaron Walker (GetSpeed Mercedes) took their third Pro-Am win of the season, reinforcing their lead in the standings after having beaten today Libor Milota-Filip Salaquarda (ISR Racing Audi) and Valentin Pierburg-Dominik Baumann (SPS Mercedes).

Double win this weekend in Am for Gino Forgione and Michele Rugolo in the AF Corse Ferrari, now tied in points at the top of the class with Mark Sansom, today second with Alexander West in the Garage 59 McLaren, ahead of the Olimp Racing Ferrari of Stanislaw Jedlinski-Krystian Korzeniowski.

At the start, under a warm sun, poleman Haase pulled away ahead of Mosca, who had passed front row starter Fontana, Baumann, Ellis, Rugolo, Salaquarda, Stolz, Emson, Kell and Babini. The initial phases saw Kell lose five positions, a 5-second penalty for Babini for going off-track and gaining an advantage, and a neat pass of Blanchemain on Marcin Jedlinski.

Shortly before the pit stop window opened (lap 14), Haase led by 2.5 seconds over Fontana, who had passed Mosca, with the Italian 7 seconds from the lead. Baumann was now fourth, ahead of Ellis, Rugolo (first in Am), Salaquarda, Stolz and Emson.

After all driver changes, Hash led with a minimal advantage over Reicher, who took the lead on lap 21. Bennett was third ahead of Révész, Bartone, Lebbon, Pierburg, Milota and Macdonald.

There was a nice battle for 13th between Pulcini, Visoiu and Porter, who pipped both rivals.

In the lead, Reicher increased his gap on Bennett to 6 seconds, with Révész third ahead of Lebbon, Bartone and Macdonald, while Libota took the lead in Pro-Am on lap 28 when Hash crashed, but was passed by Jans for class victory pn the final lap.

Forgione was a solid first in Am and took the win ahead of Sansom and S.Jedlinski.

RACE 2 RESULT >>

GT OPEN STANDINGS AFTER 7 OF 14 ROUNDS:

Overall:

1. Reicher-Haase, 87 points;
2. Révész, 83;
3. Emson-Lebbon, 65;
4. Porter-Meakin, 59;
5. Bennett-Mosca, 47; etc

Pro-Am:

1. Jens-Walker, 56 points;
2. Pierburg-Baumann, 52;
3. Salaquarda-Libota, 41;
4. Hash-Fontana, Müller-Mettler, Neumann-Dunner, 31; etc

Am:

1. Sansom, Rugolo-Forgione, 68 points;
2. Ramos, 38;
3. Jedlinski, Korzeniowski, 31;
4. West, 30; etc.

Teams:

1. Eastalent Racing, 56 points;
2. Team Motopark, 54;
3. Elite Motorsport, 33;
4. Optimum Motorsport, GetSpeed, 30; etc