FIA GT1 World Championship
Abu Dhabi, Yas Marina
April 16th - 17th, 2010 

After a year the current GT3 European Champion Christopher Haase (22, GER) returns to the Lamborghini cockpit and the care of REITER Engineering. In the GT1 World Championship he shares the super racing car Lamborghini Murcièlago R-SV with Dutch GT pilot Peter Kox. The Lambo is one of the FIA GT1 newcomers.
Last weekend the world championship spectacle kicked off at the newly-opened, luxurious Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi. The sweaty temperatures demanded a great deal of the men and material.
Six manufacturers, 12 teams, 24 super sports cars with 48 pilots are competing for the coveted 2010 World Championship title.
Before the start there were some critical opinions regarding the fairness of the balance of performance tests.
“The Corvettes were probably treated preferentially at the balance of performance,” says managing director Hans Reiter. Qualifying is actually divided into three sessions. Peter Kox (45) placed 7th in Q1. The practice session was discontinued shortly before the end. Ford GT pilot Natacha Gachnang was involved in a serious accident which disturbed the safety of the track. Haase was to participate in Q2 but did not get a chance. Due to the accident only Q1 was rated.
Christopher Haase competed in Saturday’s qualifying race and managed to gain two places. Haase was able to keep the field behind him. He made his obligatory pit stop. Tyre change and driver change. Kox headed out. Barely on the track, problems became noticeable. “The rear axle brakes were very much overheated, which results in a significant increase of the pressure of the rear tyres, because everything gets too hot and then you lose performance,” explains Reiter.
Knox quickly lost places and was forced to retire ten minutes before reaching the checkered flag in P15.
Kox started the first stint of the championship race from P15. After a flying start he gained a few places and got stuck in the traffic of the midfield in P11 He did not really have a chance to attack and therefore the team ordered Kox into the box as soon as the pit stop window opened.
Haase took over and came back to the track in P10. The Lambo pilot immediately caught up with Turner’s Aston Martin and Heger’s Maserati. Turner and Heger attacked each other with Haase watching. Fighting for P8, Haase passed Turner and clung to Alfrid Heger’s rear. Then smoke on Haase’s overheated rear axle, burning brake discs, then came the long straight, where Heger (Maserati) managed to get some distance between them, Haase caught up and remained in the slipstream. Haase pulled out and passed Heger on the inside lane with burning brake discs, he had some problems turning the corner and still had Heger next to him but finally managed to pass and gain P8. Relief at the helm. Turner followed suit and kept behind Haase. He fought and drove aggressively in order to keep his position. Christopher Haase drove across the finish line in 8th place.
“Aside from the trouble with the balance of power we are happy with the result,” says the 22-year old.
Hans Reiter says this about his stint: “He drove a great race. A really great driver. He delivered the best result possible with the car.”
The European kick-off of the GT1 season will take place in Silverstone in two weeks time.