GT / Tourism

In Quarantine with AUTOhebdo – 10 years ago, the beginnings of the incredible FIA ​​GT1

Do you also have difficulty supporting the containment measures taken by France to fight against Covid-19? Do you miss the excitement of the five red lights on, the sound of the engines? Don't panic, AUTOhebdo offers you every day a good plan to give you a boost, with the scent of burnt gum! Today, the first FIA GT1 races in Abu Dhabi with the success of a certain Romain Grosjean.

Published on 19/04/2020 à 11:23

Medhi Casaurang

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In Quarantine with AUTOhebdo – 10 years ago, the beginnings of the incredible FIA ​​GT1

Imagine, a platter of 24 cars with stunning beauty, but also with a melody of happiness. V8s, V10s and even V12s with power reaching 600 horsepower, launched in one-hour sprint races, with a change of driver halfway through.

No management strategy, full green flag at the finish. Seasoned drivers who quickly forget the value of their car and who don't hesitate to crumple carbon. That was it, the FIA ​​GT1 World Championship, which unfortunately only lasted two years.

On April 17, 2010, Stéphane Ratel Organization (SRO) launched the competition on the Yas Marina circuit (Abu Dhabi). Normally, the events that take place there are (very) boring, but wait until you see the fights between these GT1 cars!

In the peloton, we find FIA GT regulars like the Vitaphone Racing Team, former champions (Ricardo Zonta, Karl Wendlinger, Michael Krumm) but also young people with long teeth like Romain Grosjean. 

The Frenchman, rejected by Renault after a laborious half-season in Formula 1 in 2009, looking to relaunch his career. He found refuge in the narrow Ford GT built by the Swiss Matech Compétition. 

« F1 is the pinnacle in all areas, he declared in the columns of AUTOhebdo. Here, the atmosphere is more relaxed. It's not derogatory because it's very professional. The cars are magnificent and the goal is always to be the fastest on the track. »

Relive both races below, and nighttime success of the future GP2 Series 2011 champion:

Race 1:

 

 

Race 2:

 

 

Medhi Casaurang

Passionate about the history of motorsport across all disciplines, I learned to read thanks to AUTOhebdo. At least that's what my parents tell everyone when they see my name inside!

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Medhi Casaurang

28/11/2023 at 11:06 a.m.

[…] alias Shmee had the opportunity to drive one and not just any one. The original 911 GT1 spends most of its time locked away in the Stuttgart museum to be admired by […]

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