DAMS Lola takes first win

John Nielsen, at the wheel of the Kremer Lola Roush, led for the first laps of the 2.5-mile Donington Park track, getting ahead of his former Gulf McLaren team-mate at the start.

However, 25 minutes lost in the pits due to a rear hub problem meant the German-based Kremer team could not convert its excellent start into a win.

Gounon regained the lead until the first round of pitstops, when the Championship leaders, JB Giesse, got Collard out first.

With the help of a safety car period, a battle ensued between the DAMS Lola, the GLV Brums Ferrari and both JB Giesse cars.

When Lavaggi, driving the GLV car, was involved in a collision with the SR2 points-leading Tampolli RS2, the DAMS car took the lead.

Despite developing a misfire late in the race, it kept the lead until the chequered flag.
Lavaggi and Mazzacane recovered to finish second.

Gounon was delighted with his first win since 1995. 'We have to thank both Lola and John Judd for his engine, even if it was a nine-cylinder at the end !' he said.

The JB Giesse cars were still feeling the penalty of their success ballast, and the hilly circuit took its toll on their performance.

However, third and fourth places for Collard/Sospiri and Baldi/Redon respectively mean that the team still has a comfortable lead in the championship.

In the SR2 category, the British Pilbeam team took its first International win in only its second race, with Henderson and Van Dyke finishing a lap ahead of Peroni and Maddalena in the Siliprandi Lucchini Alfa Romeo.

'Despite the Pilbeam being finished only on Thursday, the car ran faultlessly throughout the race while others hit problems or each other,' Henderson said afterwards.

Merzario and Maccari still lead the SR2 points, despite not finishing at Donington.

The next round will be held at Brno in the Czech Republic on August 1.