GT Open Race Report: Bennett and Mosca Clinch Victory at Red Bull Ring
Red Bull Ring, Austria – Carl Bennett and Tommaso Mosca secured their second victory of the season in a gripping race held on Saturday, demonstrating outstanding skill in their AF Corse Ferrari 296. After a tense battle with the GetSpeed Mercedes duo of Fabian Schiller and Anthony Bartone, Mosca clinched the win on the final lap, overcoming Bartone after a thrilling duel.
Local favorites Simon Reicher and Christopher Haase delivered a commendable performance in the Eastalent Racing Audi, finishing third. This result elevated them to the top of the championship standings with 102 points, edging out Levente Révész and Max Götz, who struggled to finish in the points due to a first-lap incident.
Key Results:
- Race Winners: Carl Bennett / Tommaso Mosca (AF Corse Ferrari 296)
- Second Place: Fabian Schiller / Anthony Bartone (GetSpeed Mercedes)
- Third Place: Simon Reicher / Christopher Haase (Eastalent Racing Audi)
With this outcome, Reicher and Haase hold a three-point lead over Révész and a 15-point advantage over Bennett and Mosca.
Ferrari also achieved victory in the Pro-Am class, with Edoardo Bacci and Philipp Baron from Baron Motorsport overcoming competition from ISR Racing’s Libor Milota and Filip Salaquarda, as well as pole-sitters Atila Zsigo and Max Hesse in the Racing Trevor BMW.
In the Am category, Mark Sansom and former class champion Marco Pulcini of Garage 59 took their fourth win of the season, tying on points with the AF Corse Ferrari #21.
Race Highlights:
- Pole Position: Max Hesse (Racing Trevor BMW), marking the eighth different driver to secure pole this season.
- Early Setbacks: The race saw first-lap contacts involving Götz and Müller, resulting in punctures and deploying the safety car for two laps.
- Dominant Leadership: Despite losing the lead temporarily, Hesse regained control until a burgeoning pace from Bartone propelled him to lead by lap 39.
In a dramatic conclusion, Mosca’s timely maneuver on Bartone secured the victory, while Haase managed to snatch third place from Kelly mere moments before the finish.
Final Standings:
- Pro-Am Class: Bacci / Baron took the win, followed closely by Salaquarda and Zsigo.
- Am Class: Pulcini triumphed over Kell and Naran after a late spin for Forgione.
As the season progresses, the competition remains intense, with the championship standings tightening notably following this race. The next round promises more excitement as teams refine strategies and seek to capitalize on their rivals’ weaknesses.
