Abu Dhabi: The Matech Competition Ford GT pairing, of Romain Grosjean and Thomas Mutsch, completed a comprehensive victory in the first-ever Championship Race of the FIA GT1 World Championship at the Yas Marina Circuit on Saturday night.
Mutsch withstood a strong charge in the early stages of the one-hour race from Andrea Bertolini in the Vitaphone Racing Team Maserati before handing over to Grosjean.
Grosjean, who celebrated his 24th birthday, pushed the impressive Ford GT to take the chequered flag ahead of Qualifying race winners Andreas Zuber and Marc Hennerici in the Phoenix Racing/Carsport Corvette.
Corvette success
Andrea Piccini and Mike Hezemans took the final place on the podium in the sister car from the back of the grid to round out a successful weekend for Corvette.
Grosjean and Mutsch's victory means they sit on top of the driver standings with 31 points when the tally from both the Qualifying and Championship Races are added together.
Second overall is Zuber and Hennerici with 26 and the Vitaphone Maserati pair Michael Bartells and Bertolini third on 16.
In the battle of the brands, the Phoenix Corvette team lead the way with 41 points from the Matech Ford on 31 and Vitaphone Maserati with 24.
"I knew I had to push in the first two or three laps of my stint and that is what I did. Then I could do my race without any traffic or trouble or mechanical problems. It was just bringing the car back to the finish and when everything goes well it is the easiest part of the job," said the former Formula One driver Grosjean.
"I have always liked GTs. It is a very nice championship, six big brands and very good drivers. We will see at the end of the season but we started quite well and if we keep working like this with Thomas it will be a very interesting season," he added.
"Thomas did a fantastic job and knew exactly what he should do as well as the team and I think we are very happy to win the first championship race for FIA GT1."
Zuber who had earlier earned eight points for his Phoenix Racing/Carsport, Corvette No 13 when winning the Qualifying race said, "This was my first rolling start ever. I was fifth I think after the first lap as there were some crashes in the first corner and I was avoiding them."
"I tried to push the Maserati and the Ford in front of me and the Maserati had better traction than me and the Ford was generally quicker than me on the straight, so it was nearly impossible to pass them," he said.
