Reicher-Haase (Eastalent Audi) open their win count and take points lead by storming the GT Open’s 300th race

With a perfect race from pole to the chequered flag, Christopher Haase and Simon Reicher took a well-deserved first win this season in the most emblematic race, as Sunday’s race at the Hungaroring was the 300th race of the GT Open. The reigning champions, in the Eastalent Racing Audi, now take the lead in the overall standings of the series.

In another torrid day in Hungary, the pair were logically elated: “At last! This weekend we really had a perfect car. It’s nice to be back on the highest step of the podium, and to do it here in front of a big and enthusiastic crowd and a special race such as the 300th of the series. It’s because of days like this that we like motorsport!”.

Second overall was the young pair of the AF Corse Ferrari composed of Carl Bennett and Tommaso Mosca, with local hero Levente Révész, together with Phil Ellis, finishing third in the Motopark Mercedes and keeping his title options open, despite losing the lead. The gap, though remains very narrow: 4 points.

Steve Jans and Aaron Walker (GetSpeed Mercedes) took their third Pro-Am win of the season, reinforcing their lead in the standings after having beaten today Libor Milota-Filip Salaquarda (ISR Racing Audi) and Valentin Pierburg-Dominik Baumann (SPS Mercedes).

Double win this weekend in Am for Gino Forgione and Michele Rugolo in the AF Corse Ferrari, now tied in points at the top of the class with Mark Sansom, today second with Alexander West in the Garage 59 McLaren, ahead of the Olimp Racing Ferrari of Stanislaw Jedlinski-Krystian Korzeniowski.

THE RACE – At the start, under a warm sun, poleman Haase pulls away nicely ahead of Mosca, who has passed Fontana, who was sitting in first row, Baumann, Ellis, Rugolo, Salaquarda, Stolz, Emson, Kell and Babini. The initial phases see Kell lose five positions, a 5-second penalty for Babini for going off-track and gaining an advantage, and a nice overtaking of Blanchemain on Marcin Jedlinski.

Shortly before the pit stop window opens (lap 14), Haase leads by 2.5 seconds over Fontana, who has passed Mosca, with the Italian now 7 seconds from the top. Baumann is now fourth, ahead of Ellis, Rugolo (first in Am), Salaquarda, Stolz and Emson.

After all driver changes, Hash leads with a minimal advantage on Reicher, who takes the lead in lap 21. Bennett is third ahead of Révész, Bartone, Lebbon, Pierburg, Milota and Macdonald. There is a nice battle for 13th between Pulcini, Visoiu and Porter, who pips both rivals.

In the lead, Reicher increases his gap on Bennett to 6 seconds, with Révész third ahead of Lebbon, Bartone and Macdonald, while Libota becomes leader in Pro-Am in lap 28 when Hash crashes, but is passed by Jans for class victory in the final lap. Forgione is a solid first in Am and takes the win ahead of Sansom and S.Jedlinski.