Christian Pescatori was again quick and put the F333SP on pole.

Baldi hits the barrier as the strange start sequence unfolds.

The no. 22 Ferrari finished second, driven by Calderari/Zadra/Bryner.

Even a spell of rain could not stop the winning JMB-Giesse Ferrari.

A Ferrari 1-2-3: the victorious crews enjoy their podium celebrations.

SRWC : Donington : Giesses' 333SP Wins Again
27.8.00

Christian Pescatori and David Terrien increased their lead in the SportsRacing World Cup with a clear victory at Donington Park. The former led from the start in his JMB team Ferrari 333SP and Terrien was more than a lap ahead of their nearest rival two and half hours later.

Pescatori and Terrien were only headed during the pitstop sequences, but their task was made all the easier by the retirement of the next four fastest cars on the grid - two of them before the race had even started.

Werner Lupberger parked the Ascari-Judd he had qualified on the front row with an electronics problem on the warm-up lap. His retirement precipitated problems for two more of the front-runners. Because the Ascari was parked on the track, the race officials decided that the field should complete a second lap behind the safety car.

The front half of the grid accelerated out of the final corner only to lift off when the drivers saw the red light was still on. In the confusion, Panoz driver John Nielsen punted the R&M Riley & Scott of Mauro Baldi into the barriers. The Italian retired after crawling back to the pits, while the Panoz was forced to retire as a result of the accident 23 laps later.

Pescatori said: "It was a crazy start, but after that it was easy. At the end of the first lap I was three seconds clear and my team manager kept telling me to slow down after that. The car was good and we had no problems, even when it rained later in the race."

Pescatori's nearest competitor over the first half of the race retired shortly after half distance. Giovanni Lavaggi ran a distant second for the first 50 laps before handing over the GVL Brums Ferrari to team mate Nicolas Filiberti. The Argentinean spun into retirement halfway around his opening lap when a wheel came off.

That left the best of the Scuderia Italia Ferraris, driven by Philipp Peter and Marco Zadra, to take second place, one lap down on the winning car. The team's second entry, driven by Enzo Calderari, Angelo Zadra and Lillian Bryner, claimed the final place on the podium on the penultimate lap of the race.

Pescatori and Terrien are now 33 points ahead in the championship, with only 60 up for grabs over the remaining three races. Terrien said: "We are in a strong position and I think we can do it at the next race." The championship resumes at the Nurburgring on September 17.

Acknowledgement : Race Data by Autosport Magazine.

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