After Monza’s long straights and fast corners, it will be interesting to see how the cars adapt to Adria’s twists and turns.  The Championship is extremely close, with the top eight GT1 drivers separated by just three points.  SRT’s Bouchut and Maassen lead after their Monza win in the Corvette C6R.  Wendlinger and Ryan, victorious in Silverstone, also won the Adria round last year with their Jetalliance Aston Martin DBR9. But Vitaphone showed that the Maserati could be a winner on the tight circuit in 2006, while the Saleen S7R holds the fastest qualifying time... so anything could happen next weekend.   

As for GT2, the Monza results are still provisional. Emmanuel Collard and Richard Westbrook took the chequered flag in the Prospeed Competition Porsche 997 GT3 RSR, but their car was later excluded, leaving AF Corse to inherit a second consecutive win for Bruni and Vilander ahead of their team-mates Biagi and Montanari, with Scuderia Ecosse third.  However, Prospeed Competition lodged an appeal against the Stewards' Decision, which was heard by the International Court of Appeal this week.  The result will be published before Adria.

After two races with the FIA GT3 European Championship and the GT4 European Cup, the FIA GT teams and drivers will be alone for this round, the three series reuniting for the fourth meeting of the season in Oschersleben on July 6th.  But that does not mean that the paddock will be empty!  Quite the contrary – a full programme of support events will keep spectators amused until the FIA GT race starts at 19:50 on Saturday 21st.   The Castrol Fun Cup Italia will have two one-hour races, the ITCC has one 30-minute race, the EGTS has two 50-minute races, the Kia Rio Sport Cup has two 30-minute races and the 5Hundred Cup, one 30-minute race.

The Adria newsletter is currently on line.  As well as the provisional entry list, timetable and other practical information, it includes an interview with Gigawave’s Philipp Peter, a story on the rookies Alex Müller and Xandi Negrão, a look back at the FIA GT in Adria, a GT Life story on superstitions – or the lack of them – and an update on the work at Potrero de los Funes, which is advancing well !

Many of the FIA GT teams and drivers are in action this weekend in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.  We wish them plenty of luck, and look forward to seeing them back on the track next weekend in Adria.

Last but not least – the weather.  For the moment, dry conditions and sunny skies are forecast for the third round of the FIA GT Championship.  We hope it will remain that way!

For more information, please see www.fiagt.com and the newsletter.

Jacquie Groom

Media Delegate, FIA GT Championship