Countdown to FIA GT1 World season finale in San Luis

Round 10 – San Luis, Argentina 21 October 2011 Countdown to FIA GT1 World season finale in San Luis In two weeks, on Sunday 6 November, the teams and drivers will gather in Argentina for the season finale in the FIA GT1 World Championship. At stake is the Drivers’ and Teams’ title. The 6.27km semi-permanent Potrero de los Funes circuit in San Luis is described by drivers as one of the most thrilling and unique driving challenges in the world. Built in the confines of an extinct volcano crater which encircles a lake, the circuit is renowned for its substantial undulations and high-speed corners. It is a dramatic setting for the championship showdown, with four teams and five driver pairings who still have interest in the 2011 World titles. Michael Krumm and Lucas Luhr have the advantage in the Drivers’ Championship, as not only do they lead the standings with 131 points but they have won three Championship Races over the course of the season – two more than any other driver pairing, which will give them an edge on count back in the event of an overall points tie. In the Teams’ standings, Young Driver and JRM are out in front but again, race wins is three-one in favour of the Nissan outfit. However, Hexis and All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport have two wins apiece and could cash in if the top two outfits falter. JRM’s German pairing of Krumm and need to be within 11 points of whatever Stefan Mücke/Darren Turner (Young Driver AMR) can score, or to simply match or outperform them, to take the crown. As soon as they pick up three points, they will eliminate all the other driver pairings from the running by virtue of their three Championship Race wins this season – so if No.23 finishes fourth or higher for the Qualifying Race, the title becomes a two-horse battle between them and Mücke/Turner. If Krumm/Luhr win the Qualifying Race and Mücke/Turner fail to score, it’s not over – the JRM pair would then be 19 points ahead, meaning Mücke/Turner would have to win the main event and hope car No.23 comes in no higher than seventh. The teams’ title is much closer. Just eight points separate JRM from Young Driver, with 57 on offer. There are endless permutations here that could see either team take the crown, but if JRM can take two one-two finishes, then there’s nothing Young Driver can do to stop the British team from taking the title. Furthermore, a one-two in the Championship Race for JRM would heap pressure onto the Young Driver outfit, especially if the Astons haven’t already taken a one-two in the Qualifying Race. If Young Driver fails to score in the Qualifying Race, then a JRM Championship Race one-two would give the Nissan outfit the teams’ title no matter where the Astons finish behind them. Stephane Ratel, CEO of SRO Motorsports Groups, said: “Last year the championship was decided here in San Luis, with Michael Bartels, Andrea Bertolini and the Vitaphone Maserati MC12 becoming the first ever GT1 World Champions. It will be the same again on the 6th November with 10 drivers and four teams in contention for the two World titles (Drivers and Teams). And what better setting than stunning San Luis for the 2011 season finale.” “As in 2010, the competition to become the FIA GT1 World Champion has been intense with Aston Martin, Ford, Lamborghini and Nissan all winning races. “While all eyes are on the top of the championship table, we mustn’t forget there are several other drivers and teams who are still in contention and could emerge victorious if things go their way this weekend. It all makes for an exciting climax to an absorbing second season of GT1.” DRIVER’S CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER ROUND 9 (CHINA) R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Pos Class Driver Nat R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 Total 1 GT1 Michael Krumm 4 2 6 25 2 6 25 8 8 25 2 3 15 131 1 GT1 Lucas Luhr 4 2 6 25 2 6 25 8 8 25 2 3 15 131 2 GT1 Darren Turner 10 6 3 18 4 15 1 4 18 10 6 25 120 2 GT1 Stefan Mücke 10 6 3 18 4 15 1 4 18 10 6 25 120 3 GT1 Markus Winkelhock 1 15 8 25 8 10 8 18 4 4 101 3 GT1 Marc Basseng 1 15 8 25 8 10 8 18 4 4 101 4 GT1 Christian Hohenadel 12 18 4 2 25 2 10 1 10 12 4 1 101 4 GT1 Andrea Piccini 12 18 4 2 25 2 10 1 10 12 4 1 101 5 GT1 Tomas Enge 8 4 15 8 18 6 15 8 18 100 5 GT1 Alex Müller 8 4 15 8 18 6 15 8 18 100 TEAM’S CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER ROUND 9 (CHINA) R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 Total Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Q C Pos Class Team Nat R1 R2 R3 R4 R5 R6 R7 R8 R9 R10 Total 1 GT1 Young Driver AMR 18 6 23 3 18 4 15 8 18 1 10 33 10 14 43 224 2 GT1 JR Motorsports 10 18 1 4 14 25 1 12 6 25 12 11 25 6 20 3 23 216 3 GT1 Hexis AMR 2 37 2 28 4 8 26 3 15 2 16 1 11 3 27 6 4 195 4 GT1 All-Inkl.com Münnich Motorsport 1 16 8 25 2 20 18 2 14 14 43 6 1 12 182 Provisional Timetable Friday, November 4 10.00-11.20 FIA GT1 World Championship - Free Practice 11.45 12.15 Fiat Linea Competizione - Free Practice 12.30-13.15 Formula Renault 2.0 - Free Practice 13.30-14.30 TC2000 - Free Practice 14.45-15.15 Fiat Linea Competizione - Free Practice 15.30-16.50 FIA GT1 World Championship - Pre-Qualifying 17.15-18.00 Formula Renault 2.0 - Free Practice Saturday, November 5 09.00-10.00 FIA GT1 World Championship - Qualifying 10.20-10.50 Fiat Linea Competizione - Qualifying 11.30-12.30 TC2000 - Free Practice 13.45-14.45 FIA GT1 World Championship - Qualifying Race 15.05-16.35 TC2000 Qualifying 17.10-17.35 Fíat Linea Competizione - Race 17.50-18.40 Formula Renault 2.0 Qualifying Sunday, November 6 08.00 FIA GT1 World Championship Warm Up 09:00 TC2000 - Heat 1 09:45 TC 2000 - Heat 2 10.40 Fórmula Renault 2,0 - Race 12.10 TC2000 - Race 13.45 FIA GT1 World Championship - Championship Race Travelling to Argentina VISA No visa is required for permanence up to 90 days, for citizens from: The European Union, the United States of America and the following Latin American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panamá, Perú and Venezuela. For further information on Visa requirements visit the following website http://www.argentina.gov.ar/argentina/portal/paginas.dhtml?pagina=1245 Getting to San Luis Flying into South America there are two main travel options available – Fly into Buenos Aires International, transfer to National airport, fly to Mendoza and then drive 250km to San Luis. Fly into Santiago (Chile), take flight to Mendoza (Argentina) and then drive to San Luis San Luis has a small airport but at the present time there aren’t many airlines that use this facility. Please check with your airline / travel agent. The road from Mendoza to San Luis is very easy.

Jeff Carter Media Delegate, Photos: DPPI