FIA WEC, verdicts are not settled
AF Corse, using Pakelo lubricants, defies Porsche in GT Pro
AUSTIN, September 20th. The 6 hours of the Circuit of The Americas in Texas (5th race of FIA WEC season) finished with two bronze medals in both GT categories for the AF Corse Ferrari 458’s Italia. Pakelo proudly technically supports and sponsors the team since 2012 . Davide Rigon and James Calado, in the Ferrari 458 Italia #71, took the third step on podium in the GTE Pro category at the end of a race in recovery (they started from position 7 on grid). Positive race and third position even in GTE Am category for Perrodo, Collard and Agus.
Disappointment, however, for the race of the Ferrari 458 Italia #51 driven by the GT World Champions, Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander. Between the fourth and fifth hour of the race, a problem with a door forced an unscheduled stop in the pits when Bruni and Vilander were fighting for the top positions. The mechanics quickly fixed the technical problem. But, when the car came back on the track, it was seventh. The duo held this spot until the end of the race.
The championship, however, is still open to speculations. Three rounds ahead the end of the championship, Rigon and Calado are second with 87points (Lietz first with 98) in the GT Drivers Cup. Bruni and Vilander are currently fourth (68.5).
In GTE Am Trophy, Perrodo, Collard and Aguas are firmly second with 96 points. In the Manufactures GT, Ferrari is first with 187 lengths while AF Corse Team is in second place in the Team GTE Pro standing with 101 points, 6 points behind Porsche Team Manthey; and second among Team GTE Am with 96.
The next round of the FIA WEC will be at Fuji (Japan), October 11th.