The first round of the FIA GT Championship brought a good performance from the 360 Modenas in the N-GT class, although the 550 Maranellos struggled in the larger class.

The JMB team brought along no less than four 360s, one of which, of course, won the class Championship the previous season driven by Christian Pescatori and David Terrien.

This season Pescatori was still with the team but Terrien had moved on to drive a Viper in the large class. Pescatori duly put the 360 on to the N-GT class pole. The Ortelli/Amorim Porsche was second, followed by two more of the JMB 360s.

Three 550 Maranellos were entered in the big GT class. Two of them were run by the BMS Scuderia Italia team, which last year competed in the FIA Sportscar Championship using F333SPs. Driver pairings were Calderari/Bryner/Dor and Deletraz/Piccini. The third 550 was entered by Force One Racing and was shared by ex Formula One driver Philippe Alliot and David (son of Johnny) Hallyday.

The 360s had a fright during the race when the very quick Ortelli/Amorim Porsche maintained a blistering pace and actually crossed the finishing line first. However, post-race scrutineering found a fuel tank irregularity and the car was excluded, handing victory to the Pescatori/Montermini Ferrari. The other 360s finished 3rd, 4th and 6th in the class.

The 550s fared less well and the highest placed car, that of Deletraz/Piccini finished in sixth place overall, two laps down on the winning Lister Storm of Campbell-Walter/Springer.

The next round takes place at Silverstone on 4/5 May.

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Deletraz/Piccini were highest Ferrari, in sixth

The JMB 360s carried on their winning ways from last season