Round 8 - Imola

Race Start : 11:15
Total distance : 102 Laps = 503,166 Km max 3 hours
Starting Grid :  2 - 4 - 5 - 1 - 28 - 7 - 13 - 33 - 8 - 3 - 10 - 34 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 27 - 11 - 24 - 35 - 62 - 50 - 87 - 77 - 99 - 26 - 59 - 69 - 56 - 57 - 89 - 73
Car nr 89 (Scuderia Veregra) will not start due to an engine problem

Weather : sunny and very hot, around 39°

Start  Gollin keeps the lead into the first corner - nr 8 Saleen crashes into the barriers. The nr 27 Lister is also off.  Yellow flags at turn 5.
Lap 1 GT :  2 - 4 - 5 - 1 - 7 - 28 - 33 - 13 - 3 - 10 - 17 - 34 - 11 - 18
 N-GT :  62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87 - 59
Lap  2 Walter Lechner Jr. is still close behind the nr 2 BMS
 The gap between nr 2 and nr 4 is 0.5 seconds, with Alzen a further 0.6 behind
Lap 3 Alzen closing on Lechner; 0.3 across the finish line
 In N-GT, Pescatori kept the advantage but a fine start from the nr 99, up to 2nd from 5th on the grid and just 0.9 behind the Ferrari
 Bobbi sets fastest lap so far : 1:47.641
Lap 5 Alzen overtakes Lechner Jr for 2nd; the nr 4 is under attack immediately from Bobbi
 GT : 2 - 5 - 4 - 1 - 7 - 28 - 33 - 13 - 3 - 17
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87 - 59
Lap 6 A very close group with the nr 28 GNM ; the nr 33 MC  12 and the nr 13 GPC Ferrari all within a second in the fight for 6th.  Incident between nr 3 and 13; car 13 drops back
 Alzen has closed to within 0.4 of the leader Gollin in the nr 2 Ferrari;  Alzen sets fastest lap : 1 :47.399
Lap 7 The two leaders have really pulled away from Lechner Jr in 3rd with over 2 seconds between 2nd and 3rd places; Bobbi is still following Lechner with a 0.4 second gap
 Bertolini is just 0.2 behind Ruberti in the GNM Saleen
Lap 9 Bobbi overtakes Lechner for 3rd
Lap 10 GT : 2 - 5 - 1 - 4 - 7 - 28 - 33 - 3 - 17
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87 - 59
 The train of nrs 28, 33 and 3 are still nose to tail
 The nr 18 has a spin and loses places,
Lap 11 Alzen takes the lead in the nr 5 Vitaphone Saleen
 GT : 5 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 7 - 28 - 33 - 3 - 17 - 34 - 10 - 11
 Luhr is right behind Pescatori in the N-GT lead battle
Lap 12 Alzen pulling away; 1.37 ahead of Gollin, with Bobbi a further 1.9 away
 Livio in the nr 3 overtakes the Maserati for 7th place
Lap 13 GT : 5 - 2 - 1-  4 - 7 - 28 - 3 - 33 - 17
Lap 14 Leaders are pulling away - both Alzen (2.6) and Pescatori (2.1)
Lap 15 GT : 5 - 2 - 1- 4 - 28 - 3 - 33 - 7 - 17 - 34
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87
Lap 16 Bobbi is right behind Gollin in fight for 2nd
 Saleen nr 7 to the pits, fuel, tyres , no driver change
Lap 18 GT : 5 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 3 - 28 - 33 - 17 - 34 - 11 - 19
 N-GT: 62 - 99 - 50 - 77
Lap 19 Lamborghini nr 26 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Ortiz
Lap 20 GT: 5 - 2 - 1 - 4 - 3 - 28 - 33 - 17 - 34 - 11 - 19 - 10
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77
 All three Ferrari 550 are now in the top five
Lap 21 Alzen leads by 5.48 seconds over the nr 2 BMS car, with the nr 1 in third, 0.3 behind his team-mate
Lap 22 Lamborghini nr 24 to the pits  - problems - into garage
 Collision between the nr 1 and the nr 2 Ferrari cars  when nr 1 coming to overtake at the Variante Bassa, just before finishing line.  Nr 2 off and rejoins, nr 1 continues in 2nd
 GT : 5 - 1 - 4 - 2 - 3 - 28 - 33 - 17 - 34 - 11 - 19 - 10
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77
Lap 23 Viper nr 10 to the pits, problems, rejoins, Bouchut still at wheel
 Bertolini in the nr 33 Maserati overtakes Ruberti in the nr 28 Saleen
 Saleen nr 4 to the pits - long stop
Lap 24 GT : 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 33 - 28 - 17 - 34
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 77 -50 - 87
Lap 25 Lamborghini nr 26 returns to the pits - pushed into garage
 Viper nr 35 to the pits - fuel, tyres and driver to Lancelotti
Lap 26 Saleen nr 28 to thep its, fuel, tyres and driver to Lancieri
Lap 27 GT : 5 - 1 - 2 - 3 - 33 - 34 - 17 - 11 - 19 - 13
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 77 - 50 - 87 -
 Ferrari nr 17 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Wendlinger
Lap 28 Ferrari nr 1 to the pits, fuel and driver to Gardel
 Ferrari nr 19 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Kutemann
Lap 30 Race leader nr 5 to the pits, fuel, NO tyres and driver to Bartels
 GT : 5 - 2 - 3 - 33 - 34 - 11 - 1 - 13 - 19
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 77 - 89
 Ferrari nr 2 to the pits, fuel and driver to Cappellari
 Maserati nr 33 to the pits, fuel,tyres and driver to Salo
Lap 31 Porsche nr 57 to the pits, fuel tyres and driver to
 Maserati nr 34 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to De Simone
 Ferrari nr 3 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bryner
 This puts the nr 11 in the lead as it has not yet stopped
Lap 32 Ferrari nr 1 awarded a drive-through penalty
 Ferrari nr 11 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Peter
 Ferrari nr 13 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Naspetti
 Ferrari nr 1 serves its penalty
 Saleen nr 5 is back in the lead
 Porsche nr 77 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Vasiliev
Lap 33  Another incident between the nr 1 and nr 2 BMS cars - nr 1 goes to overtake, goes wide and through the gravel
Lap 35 GT : 5 - 2 - 1 - 33 - 34 - 28 - 3
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 87 - 50 - 77
Lap 36 Porsche nr 99 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Maassen
 Porsche nr 87 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Breton
 Ferrari nr 62 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Alexander
 Saleen nr 4 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Seiler
Lap 37 Bartels leads by 26 seconds ahead of Gardel and Cappellari, with the 2 Maserati cars in 4 and 5
 Porsche nr 69 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Petersen
 Porsche nr 73 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Jones
Lap 38 Cappellari is 2.5 seconds behind Gardel in battle for 3rd
Lap 40 Front puncture and bodywork damage for nr 1 Ferrari, going slow on the track
 Saleen nr 4 to the pits, into garage, electrical problem, driver out
Lap 41 GT : 5 - 2 - 33 - 1 - 34 - 28
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77
 Ferrari nr 1 to the pits, fuel, tyres and repairs to front bodywork
Lap 42 Bartels now leads by 41 seconds ahead of Cappellari and the two Maserati MC 12 cars, with GNM fifth
Lap 43 Rubber is signaled on the track at the exit of Tamburello, off the racing line
Lap 44 Viper nr 10 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Lemeret
Lap 45 Maserati moves up to 2nd.
 GT: 5 - 33 - 2 - 34 - 28 - 3 - 11 - 17 - 13
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87
Lap 46 Bartels leads by 40 seconds ahead of Salo, with Capellari third.  Gardel is down in 13th after repairs
 We are at the half-race distance…
Lap 47 Buncombe is in the gravel in the nr 18
 Salo is lapping consistently faster than Bartels, and is closing the gap - now 36 seconds
Lap 50 GT : 5 - 33 - 2 - 34 - 28 - 3 - 13 - 11 - 17
 N-GT : 62 - 99 -50 - 77
 Ferrari nr 2 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Gollin
 Porsche nr 77 to the pits, fuel, tyres and Bergmeister
Lap 52 Ferrari nr 17 spins out into the gravel, Wendlinger at the wheel
Lap 53 Salo has now reduced the gap to the leader to 29 seconds.  He is lapping in 1:48, compared to 1:51 for Bartels
Lap 54 GT  : 5 - 33 - 34 - 28 - 3 - 13 - 11 - 2
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 87 - 77 - 59
 The gap between nr 5 and nr 33 is now 25 seconds
Lap 55 Saleen nr 28 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Pirri-Ardizzone
 Ferrari nr 1 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bobbi
 JMB nr 17 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Melo
 Salo sets his fastest lap time so far 1: 48.722.  Added to a slow lap for Bartels, the gap is down to 18 seconds
Lap 56 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 3 - 13 - 11 - 2 - 28
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 87 - 77
Lap 58 Porsche nr 56 to the pits, to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bruno
 Lamborghini nr 24 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Piccini
 Maserati nr 33 to the pits, fuel tyres and driver to Bertolini
Lap 58 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 3 - 13 - 11 - 2 - 28
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 87 - 77
Lap 59 Maserati nr 59 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Herbert - seems quite a long stop
Lap 60 Race leader nr 5 Saleen to the pits,  fuel, tyres and driver to Alzen
 Saleen nr 4 rejoins, Seiler at the wheel
 Saleen nr 9 to the pits, unscheduled stop - thought it had a problem but OK - rejoined
Lap 61 GT  : 5 - 33 - 3 - 13 - 11 - 2 - 34 - 1 - 10
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 87 - 77
 Porsche nr 50 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Collard
Lap 63 Herbert overtakes Gollin for 6th place
 Ferrari nr 3 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Calderari
Lap 64 Viper nr 10 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Bouchut
 Saleen nr 4 back to the pits, pushed into garage - gearbox
 Ferrari nr 13 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Morbidelli
 Maserati nr 34 sets its fastest lap yet
Lap 65 Saleen nr 7 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Erdos
 GT : 5 - 33 - 2 - 34 - 13 - 11 - 3 - 1
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 87 - 50 - 77
 Herbert is back up to 4th
Lap 68 Herbert catches and overtakes Gollin for third place
 Saleen nr 28 in the pits with oil pressure problems
 Ferrari nr 62 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Pescatori
 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3 - 11 - 1
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 87 - 50
Lap 69 Bertolini is 7.7 seconds behind the leader, the nr 5 Saleen, with Herbert another 48 seconds behind
 Ferrari nr 18 to the pits, driver to Zlobin
Lap 70 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2-  3 - 11 - 1 -13
 N-GT : 99 - 62 - 87 - 50 - 77
 Porsche nr 50 into the gravel, rejoins
 Ferrari nr 87 to the pits, problems
Lap 71 Alzen is now lapping nearly 2 seconds faster than Bertolini, and has lengthened the lead to 11 seconds
 45 minutes to go…
Lap 72 The gap is now 13 seconds
 Porsche nr 77 to the pits,
 GNM Saleen back out, Ruberti at the wheel
 Porsche nr 59 to the pits, fuel, tyres and driver to Lueders
Lap 74 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3 - 11 - 1 - 13
 N-GT : 99 - 62 - 50 - 77
 N-GT leader Porsche nr 99 to the pits for second stop, Luhr takes the wheel
 Alzen is now 15 seconds ahead of the nr 33, gaining between 1 second and 2 per lap
Lap 75 Herbert is lapping faster than Bertolini, and is pulling gradually away from Gollin in 4th.  Peter is just 8.8 seconds behind Calderari
Lap 76 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3 - 11 - 1 - 13 - 17
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87
Lap 78 Alzen is now 19 seconds ahead ; the gap remains constant between the two Maserati cars.
Lap 80 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3 - 11 - 1- 13
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77
Lap 82 Viper nr 10 spins & rejoins - going slowly on track - stops after turn 8
Lap 83 Ferrari nr 2 to the pits - fuel only
Lap 84 Picollo sets nr 87's fastest lap so far
 The two Maserati cars have been lapping incredibly consistently, with the gap between them remaining around 45 seconds.  Alzen has a 25 second lead, with 21 minutes remaining
Lap 85 Ferrari nr 1 to the pits, fuel and driver to Gardel
 Ferrari nr 11 to the pits, checked car at front right corner
Lap 86 Maserati nr 33 to the pits, fuel only
Lap 88 Race leader nr 5 to the pits, fuel only
 Ferrari nr 13 to the pits,
Lap 89 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3 - 11 - 1 - 13
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87
Lap 90  Ferrari nr 18 to the pits - driver not feeling well
Lap 91 Gaps at the front : 5 - 29 secs - 33 - 39 secs - 34  - 48 secs - 2
 Ferrari nr 19 to the pits,  driver to Gosse
Lap 93 Five minutes remaining .. .Alzen still leads, lapping in the 1:49, faster than anyone on the track
 GT : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3- 1 - 11
 N-GT : 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87
Lap 95 One minute to go
Lap 97 Last lap
 Chequered flag
 Overall : 5 - 33 - 34 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 11 - 13 - 17
 GT : 5 - 2 - 3 - 1 - 11 - 13 - 17 - 7
 N-GT . 62 - 99 - 50 - 77 - 87 - 59 - 56 - 69

BMS Scuderia Italia now have an unassailable lead in the GT Teams Championship 2004

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