FFSA GT – Le Mans - Race 1 (September 25)

Qualifying
On a cold track with poor grip, we had to wait until the late stages to record some significant lap times – writes Claude Foubert. Unfortunately for Nicolas Prost, the FFSA GT rookie, his debut was not without a hitch, because after a broken engine in the practice session on Friday, he had to pit early in the first qualifying session, with throttle trouble.

Romain Bera (PSI Porsche Biturbo) had the provisional pole during most of the session, but he moved backwards on the grid towards the end, as first Patrick Bornhauser, then David Hallyday, claimed the provisional pole.

Both drivers were not threatened afterwards, so David Hallyday secured pole for the second time in this season, ahead of the Championship leader, Patrick Bornhauser.

Behind them, positions were changing until the chequered flag. Didier Moureu, Gaël Lesoudier and Yvan Lebon were respectively third, fourth and fifth. The best of the Porsches, that of Romain Bera couldn’t do better than sixth.

In the N-GT the Toyota Supra driven by Jean-Pierre Signoret (left) surprised everyone by claiming the class pole position for the first time, ahead of Thierry Rabineau( Nourry Porsche).

Race 1
Under a threatening sky, 42 FFSA GT Championship and French Cup entrants started the one hour race. At the start, Patrick Bornhauser took advantage of a slowish start from David Hallyday to lead into the Dunlop Chicane.

Back in the field, contact between Police and Rabineau (Nourry Porsches!) disrupted many drivers who had to cut across the gravel, but Patricia Bertapelle (Riverside Lamborghini) could not avoid contact. In the lead, Patrick Bornhauser had trouble containing David Hallyday, who was charging.

Quicker than the VBM Viper, Hallyday threatened to take the lead on several occasions (left), but Bornhauser was fighting brilliantly for his first place. After a strong battle, David Hallyday eventually passed Bornhauser, while Romain Bera (PSI Porsche) moved closer to both men, having passed Didier Moureu (Mirabeau Viper). Meanwhile, slightly pushed by Frédéric Hauchard (Tarres Porsche), Fiat lost the control of his DDO Saleen (below) and then had to pit for a long time.

David Hallyday was pushing hard to widen the gap on the runners-up. He managed the traffic perfectly and opened up a large gap on Romain Bera, who was now second.

After 20 minutes, Jean-Luc Blanchemain, who was fighting with Lacroix-Wasover (Lease Plan Autovitesse Viper) and Hauchard, had a rear right puncture (below). The tyre exploded and tore the front bodywork and so the Larbre Viper had to retire which was not good for the Championship.

Bornhauser held the gap to Hallyday and handed over to Olivier Thévenin who had recovered from his injured wrist.

Romain Bera and Nicolas Prost stayed out for the longest time before pitting, but after the driver changes, the #10 Hallyday / Besson Viper was in the lead, ahead of Olivier Thévenin. The fight for third place was drawing attention. Cayrolle (Mirabeau Viper) had to contain Clérico (Mirabeau Viper too), who was threatened by the surprising Olivier Porta’s Tarres Porsche Biturbo. Porta passed Clérico and afterwards Eric Cayrolle too. Cayrolle, who had tyre problems, was also passed by his teammate Emmanuel Clérico, before Eric had an off.

In the late stages, Clérico used the traffic to get onto Porta’s tail, but The Team Mirabeau driver couldn’t overtake. Porta / Hauchard had a great achievement by finishing in third place, to Marcel Tarres Team’s delight. Besson / Hallyday (below, Besson on the right) enjoyed their third win of the season and are now 16 points behind the Championship leader, Patrick Bornhauser. Prost finished seventh.

N-GT lost many entrants in the first laps. After their contact at the start, Rabineau and Bertapelle retired, then later on Signoret made a mistake, crashing his Toyota

The win was decided in the late stages between Alphand (Ruffier Porsche) and Prunet (DDO Porsche). Cyril Prunet came back very fast on the former Skiing World Champion, but Alphand, partnered by Roland Medici, held on and claimed a well-deserved win for his comeback in the French Championship.

Race 1 Result
1 10 Hallyday David / Besson Bruno Chrysler Viper GTS R 36 1:00:56.513 148,154 1:37.771 21 153,910
2 8 Bornhauser Patrick / Thevenin Olivier Chrysler Viper GTS R 36 1:01:03.319 6.806 147,879 1:37.857 4 153,775
3 30 Hauchard Frederic / Porta Olivier Porsche 996 bi turbo 36 1:01:10.189 13.676 147,602 1:38.038 22 153,491
4 6 Lebon Yvan / Clerico Emmanuel Chrysler Viper GTS R 36 1:01:10.818 14.305 147,576 1:37.813 22 153,844
5 11 Lacroix Wasover Stéphane / Beltoise Anthony Chrysler Viper GTS R 36 1:01:31.654 35.141 146,743 1:37.594 18 154,189
6 5 Hernandez Bruno / Zangarelli Mathieu Chrysler Viper GTS R 36 1:02:00.279 1:03.766 145,614 1:38.027 16 153,508
7 4 Prost Nicolas / Lagniez Jean Claude Chrysler Viper GTS R 36 1:02:34.366 1:37.853 144,292 1:38.950 15 152,076
8 80 Charriol Philippe / Loger David Lamborghini Diablo GTR 34 1:01:08.839 2 Tr 139,453 1:43.469 21 145,434
9 84 Guitard Johnny / Rey André Lamborghini Diablo GTR 34 1:01:22.888 2 Tr 138,921 1:43.636 28 145,200
10 68 Tuchbant David / Giroix Fabien Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:01:24.319 2 Tr 138,867 1:44.384 18 144,160
11 35 Medici Roland /Alphand Luc Porsche 911 GT3RS 34 1:01:24.438 2 Tr 138,862 1:43.512 33 145,374
12 34 Mouez Eric / Prunet Cyril Porsche 911 GT3RS 34 1:01:24.655 2 Tr 138,854 1:41.545 17 148,190
13 64 Dedours Frederic / Makowiecki Frederic Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:01:25.711 2 Tr 138,815 1:44.008 17 144,681
14 20 Déglise Jean Louis/Perret Pierre Chrysler Viper GTS R 34 1:01:49.158 2 Tr 137,937 1:40.608 25 149,570
15 76 David Yannick / Narac Raymond Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:01:50.825 2 Tr 137,875 1:45.304 17 142,900
16 65 Goubet Philippe / Ancel Frédéric Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:01:55.204 2 Tr 137,713 1:44.934 14 143,404
17 67 Peyroles Arnaud / Rumpler Eric Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:01:59.761 2 Tr 137,544 1:45.329 11 142,866
18 63 Boukobza Florian / Ménard Julien Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:02:13.674 2 Tr 137,031 1:45.087 20 143,195
19 61 Yvon Alexandre / Oudin Jean Paul Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:02:33.185 2 Tr 136,319 1:46.591 2 141,175
20 66 Laurin Jérôme / Clairay Guy Porsche 996 Cup 34 1:02:40.954 2 Tr 136,037 1:46.386 30 141,447
21 82 Papolla Jean Michel / Sommereau Didier Lamborghini Diablo GTR 33 1:01:12.853 3 Tr 135,203 1:45.069 14 143,220
22 78 Michel Jean Pierre / Bachelier Jean Marc Porsche 996 Cup 33 1:01:13.236 3 Tr 135,189 1:46.725 23 140,997
23 79 Lepreux Christian/Lacroix Pascal Porsche 996 Cup 33 1:01:48.182 3 Tr 133,915 1:47.836 8 139,545
24 73 Beau Christian / Huguerre Marc Porsche 996 Cup 33 1:01:57.857 3 Tr 133,567 1:47.237 30 140,324
25 14 Buchoux Nicolas / Migné Cyrille Porsche 911 GT2 33 1:02:09.723 3 Tr 133,142 1:42.443 25 146,891
26 70 Nozière Philippe / Brouard Rémy Porsche 996 Cup 33 1:02:34.300 3 Tr 132,270 1:48.350 31 138,883
27 62 Hassid Henri/Ranty Philippe Porsche 996 Cup 33 1:02:41.138 3 Tr 132,030 1:46.002 20 141,959
28 3 Moureu Didier / Cayrolle Eric Chrysler Viper GTS R 32 54:54.276 4 Tr 146,173 1:39.332 21 151,491
29 31 Baudoin Michel/Moreau Yann Porsche 911 GT3RS 32 1:01:03.661 4 Tr 131,435 1:47.318 12 140,218
30 19 Martinet Pierre / Sourd Marc Porsche 996 bi turbo 28 53:33.456 8 Tr 131,118 1:39.801 18 150,780
31 16 Vannelet Gilles / Bera Romain Porsche 996 bi turbo 27 50:00.196 9 Tr 135,423 1:38.804 4 152,301
32 15 Police Jean Claude / Cazenave Laurent Porsche 996 bi turbo 26 45:50.199 10 Tr 142,261 1:39.750 18 150,857
33 18 Tillie Philippe / Cabannes Georges Porsche 996 bi turbo 22 40:43.338 14 Tr 135,493 1:41.639 20 148,053
34 17 Prette Phillippe / Maximin Olivier Porsche 996 bi turbo 21 38:04.653 15 Tr 138,317 1:37.674 19 154,063
35 21 Stepec Thierry /De Castro Miguel Ferrari 550 Maranello 16 32:14.238 20 Tr 124,476 1:42.257 2 147,158
36 7 Fiat François / Dupuy Dominique Saleen 13 1:01:35.867 23 Tr 52,930 1:36.843 10 155,385
37 2 Blanchemain Jean Luc / Dumez Sebastien Chrysler Viper GTS R 10 16:59.140 26 Tr 147,653 1:39.975 2 150,517
38 33 Signoret Jean Pierre / Orgeval Emmanuel Toyota Supra bi turbo 4 7:17.319 32 Tr 137,638 1:45.702 2 142,362
39 71 Guf / Dellus Geoffroy Porsche 996 Cup 1 2:26.366 35 Tr 102,810 2:26.366 1 102,810
40 37 Bertapelle Patricia / Demignieux Christian Lamborghini Diablo GTRS 1 6:22.699 35 Tr 39,320 6:22.699 1 39,320
41 12 Lesoudier Gael /Soave Thierry Chrysler Viper GTS R 1 8:20.677 35 Tr 30,055 8:20.677 1 30,055
Quickest lap: No 7 Fiat François / Dupuy Dominique 1:36.843 155,385 Km/h

Thanks to Fed Espinos - Apollo