December 13, 2006
The 2006 GT OPEN at a glance
 and Pier Guidi (R)-thumb.jpg)
The first season of the International GT Open has seen an exciting battle
between the Ferraris 430 and the Mosler MT900R. After the unexpected and
beautiful win in the opening (wet) race in Monza of the Racing Box’s Viper
GT3 (which then continued unbeaten in the GTS category), the new racer
from Maranello, the 430, which gradually joined in numbers the series, has
always been a serious contender for the overall victory, clinching 6 victories,
under the colours of no less than four different teams (Playteam SaraFree,
Edil Cris Racing, Victory Engineering and GPC Sport), in the hands of renown
drivers, such as former F.1’s Andrea Montermini, GT experts as Michele
Bartyan, Paolo Ruberti and Matteo Bobbi, or young promises as Alex Pier
Guidi and Damien Pasini. Still, the “old” Ferrari 360 has also managed to take
the laurels in two occasions.
The fierce competition between the various Ferrari teams played in favour of
the fast and reliable Mosler MT900R of GTA Motor of young Spaniards Lucas
Guerrero and José Manuel Pérez Aicart, which had their day of glory (two
wins) in Istanbul, and fought for the title until the last race. But, with a
superb win in the last, double-distance race in Barcelona, Italy’s Michele
Bartyan, on the Playteam SaraFree Ferrari 430, definitively ensured the
honour of being the first GT Open Champion.
The GTB class has seen an even closer situation, with the Ferraris 360 and
430 Challenge of teams Giudici (3), Roger (2), Rodrigo (2) and Camino (1)
sharing the victories and the Porsche 996 Cup of Castro-García also claiming
2 successes.
• Italian GT Open – Monza, 1-2 April 2006
(31 entries – 45.000 spectators)
Race 1
Overall: 1. Belicchi - Zonca (Racing Box Viper GT3)
2. Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT 3)
3. Guerrero – Aicart (GTA Mosler MT900R)
GTA Winner: Guerrero – Aicart (GTA Mosler MT900R)
GTB Winner: Cutrera – A.Larini (Giudici Ferrari 360 Ch.)
Race 2
Overall: 1. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)
2. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)
3. Cressoni – Ruberti (Edil Cris Ferrari 360M)
GTB Winner: Santos – Van Zoest (Esc. Roger Ferrari 360 Ch.)
GTS Winner: Lancelotti – Cappellari (Racing Box Viper GT3)
• France GT Open – Magny-Cours, 29-30 April
(31 entries – 65.000 spectators)
Race 1
Overall: 1. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)
2. Sunberg – Romero (RSV Ferrari 430)
3. Guerrero – Aicart (GTA Mosler MT900R)
GTB Winner: Cutrera – Giudici (Giudici Ferrari 360 Ch.)
GTS Winner: Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2
Overall: 1. Ruberti – Cressoni (Edil Cris Ferrari 360)
2. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)
3. Mowlem – Roda (Autorlando Porsche GT3 RSR)
GTB Winner: Robert – Villacieros (Camino Ferrari 430 Ch)
GTS Winner: Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT3)
• Portugal GT Open – Estoril, 24 – 25 June
(50 entries – 15.000 spectators)
Race 1
Overall: 1. Montermini – Bastos (GPC Ferrari 360)
2. Gião – Amorim (Playteam Ferrari 360)
3. Sundberg – Romero (RSV Ferrari 430)
GTB Winner: C.Rodrigo – D.Rodrigo (Ferrari 430 Ch.)
GTC Winner: Näs – Gil (Eficar Porsche GT3)
GTS Winner: Zonca – Belicchi (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2
Overall: 1. Ruberti – Bobbi (Edil Cris Ferrari 430)
2. Gião – Amorim (Playteam Ferrari 360)
3. Gardel – Lambertini (GPC Ferrari 430)
GTB Winner: C.Rodrigo – D.Rodrigo (Ferrari 430 Ch.)
GTC Winner: Näs – Gil (Eficar Porsche GT3)
GTS Winner: Zonca – Belicchi (Racing Box Viper GT3)
• Istanbul GT Open – Istanbul, 23-34 September
(22 entries – 5.000 spectators)
Race 1
Overall: 1. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)
2. Pier Guidi – Bartyan (Playteam Ferrari 430)
3. Ruberti – Gianmaria (Edil Cris Ferrari 430)
GTB Winner: Arlotti – Gini (Giudici Ferrari 360 Ch.)
GTS Winner: Özgun – Ak (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2
Overall: 1. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)
2. Gianmaria – Ruberti (Edil Cris Ferrari 430)
3. Gião – Giannoccaro (Playteam Ferrari 360)
GTB Winner: Santos – Van Zoest (Esc. Roger Ferrari 430 Ch.)
GTS Winner: Özgun – Ak (Racing Box Viper GT3)
• Spain GT Open – Valencia, 7-8 October
(51 entries – 59.000 spectators)
Race 1
Overall: 1. Pasini – Mediani (Victory Ferrari 430)
2. Aicart – Guerrero (GTA Mosler MT900R)
3. Gutiérrez – Villalba (MC Mosler MT900R)
GTB Winner : Castro – García (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
GTS Winner : Perazzini – Cioci (Racing Box Viper GT3)
Race 2
Overall: 1. Lambertini – Montermini (GPC Ferrari 430)
2. Mediani – Pasini (Victory Ferrari 430)
3. Bastos – Hernández (GPC Ferrari 360 M)
GTB Winner: Castro – García (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup)
GTS Winner : Zonca - Belicchi (Racing Box Viper GT3)
• International GT Open – Barcelona, 11-12 November
(63 entries – 35.000 spectators)
Overall: 1. Bartyan – Pier Guidi (Playteam Ferrari 430)
2. Mediani – Pasini (Victory Ferrari 430)
3. Mowlem – Roda (Autorlando Porsche GT3 RSR)
GTB Winner: Nevoa – Van Putten (Marcos Mantis)
GTS Winner: Lang – Rich (Ascari GT3)
The 2006 International GT Open Champions
• Overall: Michele Bartyan (Italy)
• GTA: Michele Bartyan (Italy – Playteam SaraFree Ferrari 430)
• GTB: Fabrizio Gini (Italy- Giudici Ferrari 360 Challenge)
• GTS: Stefano Zonca, Andrea Belicchi, Piergiuseppe Perazzini, Marco Cioci
(Italy – Racing Box Viper Coupé) ex-aequo
Posted to Auto Racing - GT / Prototype / Endurance by Motorsports Journal « Go Back
