FFSA GT-C1: Lariche and Consani brilliant winners at Nogaro

The first round of the French Championship FFSAGT 2018 saw the victory of the Ginetta G55 GT4 n°8 – SpeedCar of Benjamin Lariche and Robert Consani, after a clear race for the tandem of the team managed by Pascal Destembert.

Even before the start, several cars did not leave the pit lane in the right time, including the Porsche Cayman GT4 n°1 of outgoing champion Mike Parisy, associated with Christophe Stone, and were forced to start from the pitlane.

If Fabien Michal (Audi R8 LMS GT4 n°42 – Saintéloc Racing), author of the pole, gets the best start against Robert Consani (Ginetta G55 GT4 n°8 – SpeedCar), the former rally driver maintains constant pressure against the GT at the rings and found the opening after five laps and quickly escaped.

A few moments later, the first incident of the race occurred at the end of the back straight with a collision between the No. 8 Audi R4 LMS GT5 – Saintéloc Racing of Christophe Hamon and the No. 55 Ginetta G4 GT4 of Rodolphe Wallgren. The latter spins and returns to the pits to retire, just like Christophe Hamon.

Consani's lead effort was then reduced to nothing after Benjamin Ricci went off the track (Mercedes-AMG GT4 n°88 – AKKA-ASP) which initially causes the implementation of the Full Course Yellow procedure before the safety car allows the peloton to regroup.

At the restart, Consani easily retained the advantage over Michal, who saw Olivier Pernaut's No. 8 Audi R4 LMS GT48 - Orhes Racing return to his exhausts. The positions in the top 3 remain frozen until the first passages through the pits, initiated by Fabien Michal, who gives way to Grégory Guilvert.

After the obligatory driver changes, Benjamin Lariche leads the field with his no. 55 Ginetta G8 and is now ahead of Jim Pla (no. 4 Mercedes-AMG GT87 – AKKA-ASP) and Eric Trémoulet (no. 4 Porsche Cayman GT64 – Vic' Team).

Behind, the fight rages between the two BMW M4 GT4 n°3 – BMW Team France of Julien Piguet and n°100 – 3Y Technology of Romain Monti, as well as the Audi R8 LMS GT4 n°83 – Riviera Motorsport of Antoine Leclerc. The latter, however, will make a small mistake and hit Romain Monti's M4. An incident which will be followed by a drive-through for the former Bentley driver.

It is in this peloton for fourth place that the fight will be most intense at the end of the event, with Pierre-Alexandre Jean (Ginetta G55 GT4 n°36 – CMR), whose car had nevertheless started from the back of the grid. after a joint problem in qualifying, who returned to the foot of the podium, followed like his shadow by his mentor Soheil Ayari (Ginetta G55 GT4 n°26 – CMR).

On your mind, Benjamin Lariche ends his afternoon victoriously by winning in front of Jim Pla, associated with Jean-Luc Beaubelique and Eric Trémoulet – Olivier Jouffret. The top 5 is completed by the Ginetta G55 – CMR n°36 of Jean – Tribaudini and n°26 of Ayari – Tardif.

Steven Palette, teammate of Mickael Blanchemain, places the No. 4 Porsche Cayman GT27 – IMSA Performance in sixth position ahead of Ricardo van der Ende and André Grammatico (BMW M4 GT4 n°100 – Espace Bienvenue). The BMW M4 GT4 n°3 – BMW Team France of Piguet – Hurgon follows in front of Mike Parisy – Christophe Lapierre (Porsche Cayman GT4 n°1 – CD Sport) and Grégory Guilvert – Fabien Michal (Audi R8 LMS GT4 n°42 – Saintéloc Racing ) which complete the top 10.

In Am, victory went to the No. 4 Porsche Cayman GT25 – AGS Events of Nicolas Gomar and Julien Lambert, although they started from the pit lane.

The Easter Monday race will take place tomorrow from 14 p.m.

Ranking to come