ENZO CALDERARI TAKES THE CHECKERED FLAG AT OSCHERSLEBEN! THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED METERS OF GERMAN ASPHALT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY CONQUERED AS THE #03 CARE RACING FERRARI 550 MARANELLO CROSSES THE FINISH LINE IN FIRST PLACE, STRETCHING A MONSTROUS 20.356-SECOND GAP OVER DARIO FRANCHITTI AFTER 27 THUNDEROUS LAPS!
Rewind the tape 40 minutes, and the story at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben was pure high-octane frenzy! From the moment the green lights flashed, Calderari set an unrelenting pace, tearing through the twisty German layout to post a blistering fastest lap of 1:28.399. Franchitti gave valiant chase in the #40 Fastenal Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT, but simply had no answer for the Ferrari's relentless speed.
Behind the lead duo, a sensational drag race for the final podium spot erupted between NASCAR converts Martin Truex Jr. (#01 Bass Pro Shops) and Dale Jarrett (#44 UPS Team). Truex Jr. crossed the line in third, defending his position by a razor-thin margin of just 0.516 seconds after 27 grueling laps of bumper-to-bumper Lambo warfare!
In the GT2 category, Tim Sugden stormed to victory in the #20 Vodafone Porsche GT3-RSR, taking ninth overall with 26 laps completed and a best time of 1:32.246, comfortably ahead of Kyle Lovecraft's #55 Ferrari 360 Modena.
However, the biggest drama occurred before the race even settled into a rhythm. Fernando Horta, behind the wheel of the iconic #66 Team John Player Special Ferrari 360 GTC, managed a single 1:32.083 lap before his car gave up the ghost completely, resulting in an agonizing lap 1 DNF!
Over on the pit wall, Losel Racing's management team was radioed into the trackside comms during the early failure:
Flavor Flav (#66 crew): YEEEEAH BOY! Check the clock, check the clock! Is that car stopping on lap ONE?!
Samuel J. Lackson (#66 crew): I have had it with these motherf***ing mechanical failures on this track!
Flavor Flav (#66 crew): BOYEEE! Time's up! Back to the pit garage for snacks!
Samuel J. Lackson (#66 crew): Park that damn Ferrari before I park my boot in the exhaust!
Enzo Calderari (Care Racing): "The Ferrari 550 was absolute perfection today! 27 laps of pure, unadulterated speed!"
Samuel J. Lackson (Losel Racing): "We came to race 27 laps, and Horta's engine decided to quit after three kilometers!"
