INTERNATIONAL WRAP: GULF 12 HOURS & AUSSIE OVERSEAS

Kessel Racing win the Gulf 12 Hours – Photo: Gulf 12 Hours Facebook Page

GULF 12 HOUR

Kessel Racing have won the Gulf 12 Hour at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina for the third time over the weekend.

The Swiss Ferrari GT team with Italians Claudio Schiavoni, Andrea Piccini and Sergio Pianezzola sharing the driving duties, won the race with a clear 15 second margin over fellow Ferrari 488 GT3 team Rinaldi Racing. Third place outright went to the LMP3 class Ligier JSP3 of ULTIMATE.

Australian based British driver James Winslow crashed his GRAFF Ligier JSP3 heavily after a suspected brake failure, four and half hours into the race. A car he was sharing with Aussies John Corbett and Neale Muston.

Winslow initially got out of the car by himself, but later collapsed beside his stricken car. As a result he was taken to an Abu Dhabi hospital where he was diagnosed with a fractured L3 vertebrae as well as heavy bruising to chest ribs and a concussion. Winslow is expected to remain in hospital while further while awaiting further tests.

The race was held under the control of the safety car for 90 minutes while the barriers were repaired, due to the impact.

Nick Foster was the best of the Aussie drivers, finishing eighth outright in the No. 39 Kessel Racing TP12 HubAuto Ferrari 488 GT3 that he shared with and international cast of drivers.

Ricky Capo and Josh Burdon both finished tenth outright in the GRAFF Ligier JSP3 with Burdon’s regular Asian Le Mans series co-drivers Chaoyin Wei and Louis Prette.

Max Twigg finished 18th outright in the No. 15 MRS GT-Racing Porsche 991 GT3. While Scott Andrews finished just behind him in the third of the GRAFF Ligier JSP3’s.

AUSSIES OVERSEAS

MRF CHALLENGE

The MRF Challenge held four races at Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina circuit in support of the Gulf 12 Hour.

In the opening race of the weekend Dylan Young was the best of the Aussies in seventh. Harri Jones recovered to 13th after being caught up in some opening corner drama. The third Aussie on the grid Kurt Hill finished 15th.

The second race was better for the Aussies, Young finished seventh again ahead of Jones who fought his way up to eighth. Hill finished 13th.

Jones continued his forward progress in the third race to finish sixth. Young dropped back to 10th, while Hill moved up to 12th.

Things did go as well in the fourth race, Young finished in eighth, Jones 10th and Hill 13th.

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