Brno is renowned for close, exhilarating racing in the FIA GT Championship, and the 2006 edition lived up to all expectations ! Although local hero Jarek Janis and his German team-mate Sascha Bert dominated the race in their Zakspeed Saleen S7, the battles for the remaining positions raged throughout the three hours. The GT2 race was undecided until the very end, with

JMB-GruppeM Racing's Tim Sugden and Iradj Alexander coming through to take the chequered flag. After morning showers, the rain kept away and the spectators were able to enjoy the very best that GT racing has to offer!

VICTORY FOR ZAKSPEED

After finishing as the runners-up in Silverstone, Zakspeed Racing's duo of Jarek Janis and Sascha Bert dominated the second round of the FIA GT Championship. Their nr 9 Saleen S7 was fastest in free practice; Jarek Janis claimed pole position, as well as the fastest race lap, and last, but by no means least, Bert and Janis won the race, finishing over a minute ahead of their nearest rivals, the Phoenix Racing Aston Martin DBR9. Phoenix was the only other car to lead the race, Andrea Piccini having taken the lead at the start, holding Janis back for the first 13 laps. "This weekend is like a dream comes true. I'm really happy to be here in the first place." Jarek said. Sascha Bert was equally delighted. "During the winter nobody was thinking about us, but I have a great team-mate, Jarek did a great job, and it is fantastic to be here, in this press conference, in the middle of the table! We are leading the Championship, so I hope we can carry on and do a good result at the next race. With such a team, and partners, and Michelin tyres, it is possible to have more good results!" The duo has taken the lead of the GT1 Drivers Classification, three points ahead of Silverstone winners Bertolini and Bartels, while Zakspeed is now joint second in the GT1 Teams Classification. In the Manufacturers' Cup, Saleen has already more points after two races, than they scored in the whole 2005 season. The last Saleen victory in the FIA GT Championship was in Imola 2004, when Vitaphone Racing's duo of Bartels and Alzen claimed the win.

JMB GRUPPEM RACING VICTORIOUS IN GT2

If the GT1 race was close, the GT2 battle was epic. Less than ten laps before the end, the class was being led by the nr 59 AF Corse Ferrari 430 GT2, with Aguas at the wheel. Aguas was under attack from a fast-closing Andrew Kirkaldy in the nr 62 Scuderia Ecosse Ferrari, who had just overtaken his team-mate Tim Mullen in the nr 63 car, who was suffering with its tyres. But as the nr 63 fell back, the two leaders collided, leaving fourth-placed Iradj Alexander to take the chequered flag eight laps later, in the nr 55

JMB GruppeM Ferrari 430 GT2. The car had been on a different strategy from most of the others, after an early puncture forced them to pit early. Tim stayed out until the 50-lap point, nearly at the maximum of the possible driving time, and handed the car over to Iradj, who put in a fine performance, and claimed the win, making up for their Silverstone retirement. "It was an incredible finish, Iradj did a great job at the end, and we are very, very pleased." Tim said afterwards. This was Iradj's first FIA GT victory and he was delighted. "A few laps before the end there was oil on the track, so I choose to push in order to make the difference. It

was very slippery; it was like on a race on ice!" he exclaimed.