International GT Open: Dominance by Elite Motorsport at the Hungaroring
Hungaroring, Hungary – Tom Lebbon and Tom Emson secured a commanding victory from pole position in Race 1 of the International GT Open, marking their first win with Elite Motorsport and Entire Race Engineering. The duo demonstrated strong race pace in challenging heat conditions, with Lebbon stating, “It’s never easy, especially with the heat, but we had no major issues except for the radio stopping functioning.”
In an all-British podium, Lebbon and Emson outpaced the McLaren entries of Michael Porter-Zac Meakin (Optimum Motorsport) and James Kell-Dean Macdonald (Greystone GT). This win also enabled the Ferrari to capture its first overall victory of the season, reinforcing the team’s competitiveness across multiple classes.
Class Highlights
In the Pro-Am category, Edoardo Bacci and Phillip Baron delivered a strong performance in the Baron Motorsport Ferrari 296, achieving their inaugural win of the year. They finished ahead of the SPS Mercedes duo Dexter Müller-Yannick Metller and the Sanitéloc Racing Audi pairing of Michael Blanchemain-Marcus Paverud.
In the Am class, Gino Forgione and Michele Rugolo (AF Corse) claimed their third victory of the season, finishing in front of Mark Sansom-Alexander West (Garage 59 McLaren) and Stanislaw Jedlinski-Krystian Korzeniowski (Olimp Racing Ferrari).
Race Dynamics
The race commenced smoothly in high temperatures, with Lebbon maintaining his lead after a strong start. Notable battles ensued for third place among competitors like Basz and Hesse. Despite a spin from Hash on lap 7 and various minor incidents throughout the race, the front positions remained largely unchanged.
The critical pit stop window opened on lap 17, where strategic timings played a crucial role. Post-stops, Emson led the field by 14 seconds over Ramirez, with Meakin trailing. A late-race penalty for Meakin allowed Kell to seize third place as the race concluded.
The final laps observed a mix of tension and tactical racing, especially as the Pro-Am lead passed hands. Bacci was able to clinch the victory amid last-minute challenges, while Rugolo triumphed in the Am class.
Championship Implications
With this result, the competitive landscape in the championship tightens. Haase’s fourth-place finish allowed him to reduce the standings gap to a single point ahead of Révész, intensifying the championship battle.
Race 1 Results Summary:
- Overall Winner: Tom Lebbon/Tom Emson (Elite Motorsport Ferrari)
- Pro-Am Winner: Edoardo Bacci/Phillip Baron (Baron Motorsport)
- Am Winner: Gino Forgione/Michele Rugolo (AF Corse)
The next races promise to build on the intensity witnessed at the Hungaroring as teams continue to push for crucial points in the championship.
