2009 FIA GT : First win for K plus K Motorsports

Karl Wendlinger - Ryan Sharp - K plus K Motorsport - SALEEN S7

SILVERSTONE, UK : May 3, 2009 - The first round of the 2009 FIA GT Championship, at Silvestone, provided an exciting race, punctuated by a safety-car period which both mixed and closed up the field. But Wendlinger and Sharp, in the K plus K Motorsports Saleen S7 proved to be a redoubtable force, and led for much of the race, despite spirited opposition from the Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati of Bertolini and Bartels.


The nr 14 Saleen S7R crossed the line 5.4 seconds ahead of the nr 1 Maserati, with the nr 19 Corvette C6R of Luc Alphand Aventures third, making three different manufacturers on the podium. Wendlinger and Sharp therefore retain the Royal Automobile Club Tourist Trophy - the first drivers to do so since Walkinshaw and Nicholson in 1982. It is also the first time that Saleen will be inscribed on the historic trophy.

In GT2, victory went to the Prospeed Competition Porsche 997 GT3 RSR of Westbrook and Collard, after the leading AF Corse Ferrari went off in the final stages. Pecom Racing took a fine second place for Perez-Companc and Russo in the nr 95 Ferrari 430 GT2, with CRS Racing taking third with Rob Bell and Andrew Kirkaldy.

2009 FIA GT Round 1 - Silverstone race result :

Pos	No.	Class	Drivers	Car	Time	Gap
1	14	GT1	Wendlinger/Sharp	Saleen S7	2:00:10.556	Winner
2	1	GT1	Bertolini/Bartels	Maserati MC 12	2:00:16.055	5.499
3	19	GT1	Moreau/Maassen	Corvette Z06	2:00:36.512	25.956
4	4	GT1	Hezemans/Kumpen	Corvette Z06	2:00:41.120	30.564
5	18	GT1	Lacko/Dominguez	Saleen S7	2:01:10.184	59.628
6	3	GT1	Longin/Ruffier	Corvette Z06	2:01:54.380	1:43.824
7	9	GT1	Menten/Palttala	Corvette Z06	2:00:31.041	1 LAP
8	44	GT1	Mutsch/Biagi	Ford GT (001 PT GT1)	2:01:32.547	1 LAP
9	11	GT1	Hines/Lemeret	Saleen S7 Twin Turbo	2:01:50.274	1 LAP
10	40	GT1	Leinders/Kuppens	Ford GT (001 PT GT1)	2:01:06.880	2 LAPS
11	60	GT2	Westbrook/Collard	Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)	2:00:33.834	3 LAPS
12	95	GT2	Russo/Perez Companc	Ferrari 430	2:00:46.569	3 LAPS
13	56	GT2	Bell/Kirkaldy	Ferrari 430	2:01:26.465	3 LAPS
14	77	GT2	Malucelli/Ruberti	Ferrari 430	2:01:28.605	3 LAPS
15	51	GT2	Barba Lopez/Cadei	Ferrari 430	2:01:36.937	3 LAPS
16	61	GT2	O'Young/Holzer	Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)	2:01:38.252	3 LAPS
17	80	GT2	Mucke/Makowiecki	Aston Martin V8 Vantage	2:00:18.171	4 LAPS
18	97	GT2	Ragginger/Lucchini	Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)	2:00:31.727	4 LAPS
19	55	GT2	Mullen/Niarchos	Ferrari 430	2:00:34.463	4 LAPS
20	78	GT2	Heyer/Romanini	Ferrari 430	2:01:37.921	4 LAPS
21	150	G3C	Alexander-Davi/Lagniez	Corvette Z06 GT3	2:00:38.993	7 LAPS
22	50	GT2	Bruni/Vilander	Ferrari 430	1:43:25.038	12 LAPS
23	13	GT1	Monfardini/Orts	Saleen S7	1:18:09.050	26 LAPS
24	2	GT1	Muller/Ramos	Maserati MC 12	51:20.937	37 LAPS
25	35	GT1	Krumm/Turner	Nissan GT-R	52:23.201	37 LAPS
26	59	GT2	Sugden/Ashburn	Porsche 911 GT3 RS (997)	45:36.154	41 LAPS

Hi-light Images : 2009 FIA GT Round 1 - Silverstone

[Source : FIA GT]