Andrea Montermini and Michele Maceratesi are the 2008 International GT Open Champions after an emotion-packed final race in the Circuit de Catalunya. The Italian pair, in their Playteam SaraFree Ferrari F430, turned completely over a very difficult situation and could clinch the title in front of their rivals Lietz-Roda (Autorlando Porsche), despite Montermini crashing the car in the warm-up.

The car could be repaired in time thanks to a great effort of the team mechanics, and the Italian pair drove another brilliant race, on a treacherous track soaked by the rain, that they eventually won (despite the 15” handicap), well helped by their team-mates Gião-Couceiro, who finished second ahead of the Trottet Ferrari of Moser-Fässler. “We are extremely happy to win the title, after such a difficult week-end” said the two Italians, “and we really owe a lot to the tem. It has been a long and exciting season, we were on top of the standings for almost all of it, but we have been close to lose it”.

The heavy rain contributed to the result as the Ferraris seemed much more at ease on the wet track than the Porsche of Lietz-Roda, today only sixth. Orlando Redolfi, the team owner of Autorlando Sport, reckoned: “In such conditions, our car was very difficult to drive. I can only congratulate Playteam, they have been stronger”.

The GTS race was also influenced by the rain, which provoked the accident of the leading Ferrari of Renard-Vosse, leaving three Lamborghini Gallardos in the podium, with the two Mik Corse of Piccini-Geri and Bontempelli-Caccia ahead of Ruffier’s Hélary-Cabannes.

THE GTA RACE - Poleman Damien Pasini took the lead ahead of Maceratesi, Gião, Lietz, Rugolo, De Castro, Monfardini, Gianmaria and Ortelli but on lap 3 the rain intensified and he was surprised at the end of the straight, hitting hard the tyre wall. Also Cruz, Fernandez and Monfardini went off in that lap.

The first part of the race saw Lietz trying to attack Gião for third, but with no success, and a superb performance of Marc Carol in the V-Line Ferrari, who reaches second position just before the pit stop. After the driver changes, it is Couceiro leading ahead of Mayola and Montermini, while Fässler is charging from behind and Roda is trying to keep a sixth position, which at that moment still meant winning the title.

In the final laps, Montermini took second from Mayola, while Fässler, just behind him, was evidently not attacking him, and in the last corners, Couceiro left pass his teammate to conquer a double victory and the certainty of the title. Cressoni was fourth, ahead of Mayola, Roda, Cioci, Chacón and Alméras.

THE GTS RACE – The second GTS race was as wet as the GTA race. With the second place in the championship as the biggest stake, the race saw domination of the Sport
Garage-prepared Ferraris, with poleman Vincent Vosse taking the lead ahead of teammate Vannelet, who will later spin in lap 6 after trying to attack the sister car.

Peyrolles was third in the first part of the race ahead of Julià, Caccia and Raimondi.
After the pit stop, Renard kept the leadership but when rain doubled, he could not avoid a spin and a big shunt, which forced the safety-car to get in. In this conditions, it was a double victory for the Lambos of Mik Corse, with Piccini and Bontempelli, with another Lambo third, the Ruffier one of Hélary. Pampló ended fourth and Ceccato fifth. Although finishing outside the points, Max Wiser, in the Villois Aston

FINAL GT OPEN STANDINGS:
1. Montermini-Maceratesi (Playteam Ferrari), 177 p.
2. Lietz – Roda (Autorlando Porsche), 169
3. Gião-Couceiro (Playteam Ferrari), 161
4. Moser (Trottet Ferrari), 117
5. Monfardini – Frezza (EdilCris Ferrari), 110
6. Pasini-Bonetti (AE Ferrari), 100
GTA Champion: Montermini-Maceratesi (Playteam Ferrari)
GTS Champion: Cioci-Pellizzato (Twentwy-two Corvette)