With a new round sponsor in the form of Michelin, and one of Australia’s most famous circuits as the venue, round two of the 2007 Australian GT Championship offered up plenty of potential and the expectations were well and truly realised.
The former Adelaide Grand Prix circuit (used for Formula 1 from 1985 -1995) was hosting its ninth V8 Supercar event and the return of exotica in the way of the GT Championship for the first time since the PROCAR days was welcomed by all.
The field was simply first class not only with a 26 car entry giving it quantity but the now expected high quality was further enhanced by way of Bryce Washington debuting his brand new NATRAD Lamborghini Gallardo and Irish international Hector Lester flying in for the Adelaide event to pilot the Dave Stevens owned and Brennan IT sponsored Ferrari 430.
Practice 1 saw the talents of David Wall (Porsche GT3 RSR) come to the fore on the unforgiving 3.22 kilometre layout with a time of 1:27.3709 followed by Allan Simonsen (Ferrari 360 GT), Hector Lester (Ferrari 430), Sven Burchartz (Porsche GT3), and John Kaias (Porsche GT3 Cup Car). Washington’s stunning Lamborghini was also among the fastest but a problem with the transponder on the car resulted in it being excluded from the session.
In Practice 2 it was Simonsen who was fastest with a time of 1:27.0571 from David Wall, Bryce Washington, Mark Eddy (Ferrari 360) and South Australia’s Gary Dann in the ex-Washington Porsche GT3 Cup Car.
The times dropped for qualifying in what was a portent of things to come with Wall again showing his class with a pole winning performance of 1:25.0845 to finish the session just. 5562 ahead of Simonsen with Washington also in the 25’s just. 9083 off the top time.
Lester was fourth fastest and then it was John Teulan (Ferrari 430) followed by Sven Burchartz, Gary Dann, and Mark Eddy.
Race one saw Simonsen into the lead before the first chicane, but the start was deemed ‘too good’ and Coopers/Consolidated Chemical Company Ferrari 360GT suffered a drive through penalty on lap 4.
Wall took the victory with Simonsen charging hard back up to second place with a highly impressive third going to the Queensland based Ferrari 430 of John Teulan.
Cont.
Washington’s new Lamborghini was suffering some teething problems and finished in 14th, but one of the drives of the event was that of Peter Lucas who brought his Lotus Elise home in 9th position.
Simonsen had the victory in race 2 in what could well be described as “the event†of the entire meeting.
Wall’s Porsche had the measure of the Simonsen Ferrari until a great move on the second last lap saw the Dane make it to the front on the outside of turn 10 and take victory by a mere. 06 of a second!
Washington brought the Gallardo home in third with Teulan in fourth and Dann in fifth.
Mark Eddy (Ferrari 360) crossed the line in sixth with the remarkable Peter Lucas bringing his Lotus up to seventh followed by the Ferrari 430 of Maher Algadrie.
The final GT Championship race of the event saw Simonsen score his second win from Wall with Washington again in third.
John Teulan was again fourth in a brilliant overall result for the meeting with Mark Eddy fifth and the equally impressive Dann in sixth.
Seventh place went to the Elise of Peter Lucas who proved to be one of the outstanding competitors at this brilliant Clipsal 500 Adelaide meeting that was attended by a record crowd of 276,900 people over the four days.
And just for the record, Alan Simonsen left the GT record on the streets of Adelaide at 1:24.8507.
Round Results
1. Allan Simonsen - Ferrari 360 GT (108)
2. David Wall - Porsche GT3 RSR (105)
3. John Teulan – Ferrari 430 (78)
4. Gary Dann – Porsche GT3 Cup Car (69)
5. Bryce Washington – Lamborghini Gallardo (68)
Championship Results
1. Allan Simonsen (225)
2. David Wall (169)
3. Bryce Washington (156)
4. John Teulan (126)
5. Peter Lucas (106)
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