.jpg)
By Tarek Ramchani
The Belgian Audi Club WRT dominated today's main race at Nogaro, round 1 of the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship. Another perfect 1-2 victory for the brand new Audi R8 LMS ultra.
Great sunny weather for the championship race with the two Belgian run Audi cars starting from position one and two as they finished in yesterday's qualifying race. Right from the start, the two Audis faced strong competition from the #3 AF Corse Ferrari with Toni Vliander driving. The Finnish driver was able to pass the #33 Audi of Frank Stippler and put great pressure on the leading #32 R8 of Stephane Ortelli. The three leading cars pulled away for the rest of the pack with a great gap over the chasing group. Minutes later and a drive through penalty hit the Ferrari, Toni Vilander had jumped the start. This made it a lot easier for the Audi squad leading and waiting for the pit window to complete the mandatory pit stops. The #32 pitted first with Stephane Ortelli out handing the car to Laurens Vanthoor. A lap later it was the turn of the sister #33 with Frank Stippler letting in Oliver Jarvis. The #33 car was able to rejoin the track right in front of the #32. No team orders at Belgian Audi Club WRT and a great battle for the lead started between Jarvis and Vanthoor. The young Belgian did pass the British Audi works driver at the hairpin but Jarvis succeeded to retake the lead. A few laps later and Vanthoor again made it to the lead, while behind Markus Winkelhoc with his All-Inkl AMG SLS started hunting the two Audis. The Mercedes was clearly faster in the closing stages of the race, but that was too late, the Audis crossed the finishing line victorious. The same #32 of Stepahne Ortelli and Laurens Vanthoor made it a double after yesterday's win. Yet again their team mates Oliver Jarvis and Frank Stippler finished in the second spot.
The 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship season has started really well for Belgian Audi Club WRT. Double victories in both races at Nogaro and the championship points lead in both the teams and drivers’ standings. The next round will be at Circuit Zolder in Belgium, the home round for team WRT.
Photo Credits: Markus Berns and SRO www.gt1world.com
