Ferraris show the way in free practice

The Ferraris were at the top of the lot at the end of the first free practice session of the MotorCity FIA GT 500 Championship to be held over the next two days at the Dubai Autodrome.

Driving a Ferrari 550 Maranello, the Larbre Competition team was timed at 1 hour, 58.389 minutes after 35 laps around the Dubai Autodrome track yesterday evening.

In second was the Italian-based GPC Sport in another Ferrari 575 Maranello GTC with a time of 1:58.565.

Coming in third place was the GLPK Racing Team in a Corvette C5R and a time of 1:58.664.

If things go as per form shown yesterday, it will be a challenge to get past the Ferrari duo of Pedro Lamy from Portugal and Gabriele Gardele Switzerland.

Occupying the next two places were two Maseratis MC12s represented by the Vitaphone and JMB Racing teams.

"So far it's been going well for me. The car feels good. But tomorrow is more important, and the most important result is the one on Friday," Lamy said.

"But the car is working well, and so are the tyres. I like the circuit, it's quite difficult, with strange braking points. It's technical, and very nice," the Portuguese added.

The GPC Sport Team with their two Italian drivers Marco Cioci and Andrea Montermini also stepped on their Ferrari 575 Maranello GTC's gas, with a fastest lap time of 1:58.565.

"We did a couple laps, and it's going well. I drive the same type of car in the Italian Championship, but this feels very different teams take cars in different directions," said Montermin.

Behind the GPC Sport Team were Bert Longin (Belgium) and Anthony Kumpen (Belgium) in their Corvette C5R.

"We struggled a bit at the start with the circuit and the grip, but then we changed the set up and tried another tyre compound, so it's quite good now," Kumpen said.

"It will still be a very tough race. With the Corvette, we have to be ambitious and go for the win again," added Longin.

This year's championship has attracted a champions field including the likes of Matteo Bobbi and Gabriele Gardel (2004 winners), former F1 driver Pedro Lamy, Karl Wedlinger, the current GT1 first place holder with 66 points and Marc Lieb, the GT2 first placed driver with 92 points.

Last year's GT1 champion, Gabriele Gardel, is in fifth position this year with 60 points.

This leaves him six points behind Karl Wendlinger and Andrea Bertolini, Maserati MC 12 GT1, who are in first position with 66 points.

Meanwhile, two of endurance racing's premier drivers have teamed together for the first time to race in the race driving an Aston Martin DBR9.

Brought to Dubai by Middle East Aston Martin, triple FIA GT Champion Christophe Bouchut and Stephane Ortelli, a two-times FIA N-GT champion and will race as 'Dubai GT Racing Team'.

"Although they have driven together before for another team in the American Le Mans Series, this is the first time they have teamed up in the FIA GT Championship," remarked Thomas Kastgen, the CEO of Middle East Aston Martin.

The Vitaphone Racing Team currently leads the standings with 121 points, followed by the JMB team in second place with 90 points and the Larbre Competition team in third place with 75 points. Even though these three teams head the standings, it will be interesting to watch the competition as just a couple of points separate the top seven ranks.

The FIA GT Championship is organised under the patronage of General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and UAE Defence Minister.

This weekend's event promises to be a fun-filled event for families.

Programme: Today: (9.00 - 10.30 am) Free Practice 2; (12:30 - 13:15) Qualifying 1; (16:30 - 17:15) Qualifying 2; (17:30) Press Conference.

Tomorrow: (10:00 - 10:15) Warm-Up ; (14:00 - 17:00) Race ; (17.20) Press Conference.

The Vitaphone Racing Team currently leads the standings with 121 points, followed by the JMB team in second place with 90 points and the Larbre Competition team in third place with 75 points. Even though these teams head the standings, just a couple of points separate the top seven ranks...