2Oth January 2012

A new event has appeared on the early-season calendar between Dubai and Daytona. The Gulf 12 Hours on the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi saw the AF Corse Ferrari of Marco Cioci-Giuseppe Perazanni-Matt Griffin snatching victory in a sprint finish.

The particularity of this event, organized by Abu Dhabi Motorsport management and run in two 6-hour heats, is that the gaps between the cars on the same lap are not taken into account. Only fifteen cars started the first event, five CN prototypes, and ten GTS (GT3, GT4,Cup). Ivan Bellarosa put his Wolf-Honda GB08 on pole in 2m 10.167s from the AF Corse Ferrari of Marco Cioci in 2m 11.687s.

In the race itself the reliability of the GTs made the difference. While the gap opened up by the Cioci- Perazanni-Griffin Ferrari was reduced to naught at the start of the second heat, the AF Corse crew managed to snatch victory in the closing minutes from the Kessel Racing Ferrari of Bronisewski-Peter-Cimbra-Ramos and the United Autosports Audi R8 LMS driven by Dalziel-Popov-Potolicchio who were there for a trial run before the Daytona 24 Hours.

Text: François Hurel – Photo: Corse Clienti