FIA GT 2003 Championship: sixth round in Belgium for the 24 Hours of Spa - Francorchamps
The 24 hours of Spa is one of the most important races of the FIA GT Championship because it is the only 24 hour race in this championship and will be run on one of the most famous circuit of the world. This legendary circuit is characterised by challenging corners and an unpredictable climate and the race here of 24 hours will be very demanding for both men and machine. It is to note that in this race only, championship points will be awarded after both six and twelve hours of racing, as well as when the chequered flag finally flutters at the end of the race.
Especially on this type of race, reliability of engines and tyres is of paramount importance: the Pirelli P Zero racing tyres with their latest compounds have already demonstrated at the 24 Hours of Le Mans the perfect balance between grip and reliability over long distances.
The situation after five races in the GT category has remained provisional for some weeks because the race-winning BMS Scuderia Italia with the Ferrari 550 Maranello nr. 23 was excluded from the results by the FIAs Stewards, due to an engine problem. The team has appealed and a hearing of the International Court of Appeal has take place in Paris. The Court, which met on Tuesday 15th, has annulled the decision of the Stewards and reinstated the nr 23 Ferrari 550 Maranello in the classification of round 5 in Donington. At the end of the story, the GT podium as at Donington doesn't change.
Anyway, the Ferrari of team BMS remains the most powerful and reliable car for this part of the championship and is always in a strong first position in the Championship with seventy three points. It is to underline that Team JMB's Ferrari 550 Maranello - Pirelli is increasing its reliability, and not to the detriment of the engine's power: the victory in the last race of the Italian FIA GT Championship demonstrates that the car is significantly improving its performances. For the 24 Hours of Spa Team JMB - Pirelli will have between its drivers also Luciano Burti, the former Ferrari F1 official tester, on the Ferrari 550 Maranello.
Team Force One - Pirelli is ready to demonstrate again its good condition after the third place obtained at Donington with Alliot, Hallyday and Zacchia.
In N-GT category, Team JMB Racing - Pirelli with the Ferrari 360 Modena is third at nine points from the leading team, Freisinger Motorsport, and its drivers Fabrizio De Simone and Andrea Bertolini are second in general classification by a distance of only one point from the leaders, Davies and Mullen.
Next race: Anderstorp, Sweden, September 6th - 7th