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GT NEWS #1 - FREE PRACTICE SESSIONS
For round 5 of the 2003 season of the FIA GT Championship, the teams and
drivers have returned to the British track of Donington, which hosted the
penultimate round of the 2002 season. The track, with its mixture of uphill
and downhill sections and sequences of quick corners, is generally a
favourite with drivers. Last year, the race was won by Mike Hezemans and
Anthony Kumpen in their Carsport Holland Chrysler Viper GTS-R, while
Stéphane Ortelli and Romain Dumas won the N-GT class, claiming the N-GT
Drivers title for Ortelli in the process.
Weather
Friday dawned overcast and warm, and remained dry for the morning. However,
light rain started around lunchtime and it remained wet throughout the
afternoon free practice session.
Handicap Weights
After winning the first four rounds, the nr 23 BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari
550 Maranello of Biagi and Bobbi remains with the maximum of 100 kg penalty
weight. The team's nr 22 car, driven by Gollin and Cappellari, will have 80
kg, after finishing third in Brno. The nr 15 Lister Storm of Piccini and
Deletraz has gained 30 kg weight after their second-place finish in the
Czech Republic, while the penalty on the nr 14 car has been reduced to 10
kg, after finishing fourth last race. In N-GT, the nr 51 Freisinger
Motorsport Porsche has 20 kg after winning in Brno, while the nr 52 Ferrari
360 Modena now has 30 kg and the nr 88 Team Maranello Concessionaires
Ferrari 360 Modena car sees its penalty increase to 25 kg after third place
in Brno.
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