BLOG / FIA WEC: second podium for Perrodo-Collard-Aguas in the GTE Am. “Stop and go” for the reigning champion 458

Sunday, 3 May 2015

Second race in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) 2015 and second consecutive podium, in GTE Am category, for Francois Perrodo, Emmanuel Collard and Rui Aguas in the AF Corse Ferrari 458 Italia #83. The performance in the “6 Hours of Spa” (Saturday, May 2nd) means the second place under the chequered flag for the trio and suggests that Perrodo, Collard and Aguas can aim for the title. Actually, they are second in the GTE Am Drivers standing with 36 points.
 Staying in the GTE Am, seventh place for Duncan Cameron, Matt Griffin and Alex Mortimer in the Ferrari 458 Italia #55; the trio were to debut in the WEC.

In the GTE Pro category, frustrating day as a series of external factors impacted severely on the performances of both cars and drivers alike. Davide Rigon and James Calado in the #71 Ferrari were involved in a mid-race collision and, at the end, they finished 7th. 
The reigning AF Corse Ferrari world champion, the 458 #51 driven by Gianmaria Bruni and Toni Vilander, paid dearly for a pit-stop problem that turned into a disastrous penalty that sent the duo to fourth place in the final standings. They were first up to the last pit stop; back on track, the car was second, fighting for the lead. Until the "stop and go" that forced Bruni-Vilander to fourth place at the finish. 

In the GT Manufactures classification, Ferrari is second (58 points) just with a point in less than Aston Martin.
In the GT Drivers standing, Bruni and Vilander are first with 37 points. AF Corse is leading in the GTE Pro Team classification (37) and second in GTE Am (36 points).

The next race in the FIA WEC will be the legendary “24 Hours of Le Mans”, June 13th and 14th.