2001 FIA Sportscar Championship explained

The 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship was the inaugural season of FIA Sportscar Championship,^[1] an auto racing series regulated by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and organized by International Racing Series Ltd. The series was a continuation of the previous SportsRacing World Cup dating back to 1997. It was open to two categories of sports prototypes, SR1 and SR2, and awarded championships to drivers and teams in each category. A championship for constructors was also established for this season. It began on 8 April 2001 and ended on 16 September 2001 after eight races.

Italian Marco Zadra won the SR1 drivers' championship, while his BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari secured the teams' and constructors' titles. The SR2 class was led by American Larry Oberto and Swede Thed Björk who drove for SportsRacing Team Sweden. Lola won the constructors' championship in SR2.

Schedule

Despite still sharing regulations with the American Grand Am Road Racing Series, the American series no longer counted toward the new FIA championship. Kyalami also did not return, leaving the calendar strictly European. Catalunya, Monza, Spa, Brno, Donington, Magny-Cours, and the Nürburgring were all carried over from the previous season, joined by the Irish Mondello Park. Monza replaced its former World Cup race with the traditional 1000 km race, adding an endurance event to the calendar. All other races were limited to 2 hours and 30 minutes of duration.

Rnd	Race	Circuit	Date
1	FIA Sportscar Championship Barcelona	Circuit de Catalunya, Montmeló, Spain	8 April
2	1000 km di Monza	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza, Monza, Italy	22 April
3	R.M.U. Classic	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Stavelot, Belgium	13 May
4	Mistrovství FIA Sportovních Vozů	Autodrom Brno, Brno, Czech Republic	1 July
5	FIA Sportscar Championship Magny-Cours	Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours, Magny-Cours, France	29 July
6	August Bank Holiday Grand Prix	Donington Park, North West Leicestershire, United Kingdom	26 August
7	FIA Sportscar Championship Mondello	Mondello Park, Caragh, Ireland	1 September
8	DMC/ADAC Sportwagen-Festival Nürburgring	Nürburgring, Nürburg, Germany	16 September

Entries

SR1

Entrant	Car	Engine		Drivers	Rounds
BMS Scuderia Italia	Ferrari 333 SP	Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12	1	Marco Zadra	All
				Christian Pescatori	1–2, 5, 7–8
				Jean-Marc Gounon	3–4, 6
			2	Angelo Zadra	All
				Enzo Calderari	All
				Lilian Bryner	All
				Marco Zadra	2
GLV Brums	Ferrari 333 SP	Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	3	Giovanni Lavaggi	1–6, 8
				Christian Vann	1–6
				Bob Berridge	8
				Xavier Pompidou	8
Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	5	John Nielsen	All
Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	5	Hiroki Katoh	All
R&M	Riley & Scott Mk III	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	6	Mauro Baldi	All
				Gary Formato	1
				Ivan Capelli	2
				Alex Caffi	3–8
Redman Bright	Reynard 01Q	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	7	Mark Smithson	1–3, 5–6, 8
				Peter Owen	1–3, 5–6, 8
				Guy Smith	2
Racing for Holland	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	8	Jan Lammers	All
Racing for Holland	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	8	Val Hillebrand	All
Kremer Racing	Lola B98/10	Ford 6.0 L V8	10	Sam Hancock	All
				Ralf Kelleners	1
				Didier de Radiguès	2–3
				Gary Formato	2, 4
				Jean-Marc Gounon	5, 7–8
				Robbie Stirling	6
Konrad Motorsport	Lola B2K/10	Ford 6.0 L V8	15	Franz Konrad	8
Konrad Motorsport	Lola B2K/10	Ford 6.0 L V8	15	Ralf Kelleners	8
Pescarolo Sport	Courage C60	Peugeot A32 3.2 L Turbo V6	16	Jean-Christophe Boullion	1–2, 5, 8
				Sébastien Bourdais	1–2
				Laurent Redon	2, 5
				Boris Derichebourg	8
Team Ascari	Ascari A410	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	17	Ben Collins	All
Team Ascari	Ascari A410	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	17	Werner Lupberger	All
Team Durango	GMS Durango LMP1	BMW 4.0 L V8	21	Andrea de Lorenzi	5
Team Durango	GMS Durango LMP1	BMW 4.0 L V8	21	Soheil Ayari	5
Conrero	Riley & Scott Mk III	Ford 4.0 L V8	25	Alex Caffi	2
				Angelo Lancelotti	2
				Andrea Chiesa	2

SR2

Entrant	Car	Engine		Drivers	Rounds
Lucchini Engineering	Lucchini SR2001	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	50	Raffaele Raimondi	1–4
				Filippo Francioni	1–4
				Pierguiseppe Peroni	1–2
	Lucchini SR2000		51	Denny Zardo	1–7
	Lucchini SR2000		51	Mauro Prospero	1–7
	Lucchini SR2001		52	Pierguiseppe Peroni	3–8
				Jean-Bernard Bouvet	3–5
				Sébastien Ugeux	6–7
				Raffaele Raimondi	8
Siliprandi	Lucchini SR2-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	53	Pasquale Barberio	2, 8
Siliprandi	Lucchini SR2-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	53	Ezio Mazza	2, 8
Renauer Motorsport	Tampolli SR2 RTA-2001	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	55	Manfred Jurasz	1, 3
				Gottfried Cepin	1, 4, 8
				Hannes Gsell	3–5, 8
				Martin Henderson	3, 8
				Wolfgang Griessner	4
				Wolfgang Kaufmann	5
				Norbert Groer	5
EBRT Schroder Motorsport	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	58	Ian Khan	1–2
				Martin Henderson	1–2
				Mark Peters	1
				Pierre Merche	2
BM Autosport	Tampolli SR2 RTA-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	59	Massimo Monti	1–6
BM Autosport	Tampolli SR2 RTA-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	59	Renato Nobili	1–6
Rowan Racing	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	61	Warren Carway	1, 3–8
Rowan Racing	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	61	Martin O'Connell	1, 3–8
Audisio & Benvenuto Racing	Lucchini SR2-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	65	Giuseppe Chiminelli	2, 4, 8
				Bruno Corradi	2
				Antonio Vallebona	2
				Ernesto Saccomanno	4
				Ivano Giuliani	8
	Lucchini SR2001		66	Roberto Tonetti	1–6, 8
	Lucchini SR2001		66	Massimo Saccomanno	1–6, 8
Swara Racing	Tampolli SR2 RTA-2001	Nissan 3.0 L V6	68	Michael Mallock	4–6, 8
				Simon Wiseman	4
				Phil Andrews	5–6, 8
	Pilbeam MP84		69	Simon Wiseman	1–3, 8
				Ben McLoughlin	1–2
				Heinrich Langfermann	1
				Michael Mallock	2–3
				"Frederico Careca"	8
SCI	Lucchini SR2000	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	72	Ranieri Randaccio	All
				Pasquale Barberio	1
				Leonardo Maddalena	2–8
Team Sovereign	Rapier 6	Nissan 3.0 L V6	75	Ian Flux	1, 3, 5–6, 8
Team Sovereign	Rapier 6	Nissan 3.0 L V6	75	Mike Millard	1, 3, 5–6, 8
SportsRacing Team Sweden	Lola B2K/40	Nissan 3.0 L V6	76	Thed Björk	All
				Larry Oberto	All
				Stanley Dickens	2
				Earl Goddard	3
				Damien Faulkner	7
Redman Bright	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	77	Piers Johnson	6
Redman Bright	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	77	Oli Wilkinson	6
PiR Competition	Debora LMP299	BMW 3.0 L I6	99	Marc Rostan	All
				Pierre Bruneau	1–6, 8
				Arturo Merzario	1–4
				Ludovico Manfredi	5–6
				Arnie Black	7

Results and standings

Race results

Rnd	Circuit	SR1 Winning Team	SR2 Winning Team	Reports
Rnd	Circuit	SR1 Winning Drivers	SR2 Winning Drivers	Reports
1	Barcelona	No. 1 BMS Scuderia Italia	No. 61 Rowan Racing	Report
1	Barcelona	Christian Pescatori Marco Zadra	Warren Carway Martin O'Connell	Report
2	Monza	No. 3 GLV Brums	No. 76 SportsRacing Team Sweden	Report
2	Monza	Christian Vann Giovanni Lavaggi	Larry Oberto Thed Björk	Report
3	Spa	No. 1 BMS Scuderia Italia	No. 59 BM Autosport	Report
3	Spa	Jean-Marc Gounon Marco Zadra	Massimo Monti Renato Nobili	Report
4	Brno	No. 5 Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	No. 76 SportsRacing Team Sweden	Report
4	Brno	John Nielsen Hiroki Katoh	Larry Oberto Thed Björk	Report
5	Magny-Cours	No. 16 Pescarolo Sport	No. 61 Rowan Racing	Report
5	Magny-Cours	Jean-Christophe Boullion Laurent Rédon	Warren Carway Martin O'Connell	Report
6	Donington	No. 17 Team Ascari	No. 61 Rowan Racing	Report
6	Donington	Ben Collins Werner Lupberger	Warren Carway Martin O'Connell	Report
7	Mondello	No. 5 Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	No. 76 SportsRacing Team Sweden	Report
7	Mondello	John Nielsen Hiroki Katoh	Damien Faulkner Larry Oberto Thed Björk	Report
8	Nürburgring	No. 8 Racing for Holland	No. 76 SportsRacing Team Sweden	Report
8	Nürburgring	Jan Lammers Val Hillebrand	Larry Oberto Thed Björk	Report

Points were awarded to the top eight finishers in each category. Entries were required to complete 60% of the race distance in order to be classified as a finisher and earn points. Drivers were required to complete 20% of the total race distance for their car to earn points. Teams scored points for only their highest finishing entry.^[2]

Event	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
+Points system
Races	20	15	12	10	8	6	4	3	2	1

Drivers championships

SR1

Marco Zadra won the SR1 Drivers title at the wheel of a Ferrari 333 SP entered by BMS Scuderia Italia.

valign=middle		valign=middle	Driver	valign=middle	Team	BAR	MON	SPA	BRN	MAG	DON	MON	NUR	valign=middle	Total points
1	Marco Zadra	BMS Scuderia Italia	1	Ret	1	2	2	2	2	4	110
2	John Nielsen	Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	4	Ret	6	1	3	5	1	3	88
2	Hiroki Katoh	Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	4	Ret	6	1	3	5	1	3	88
4	Jan Lammers	Racing for Holland	Ret	3	3	5	6	3	3	1	82
4	Val Hillebrand	Racing for Holland	Ret	3	3	5	6	3	3	1	82
6	Ben Collins	Team Ascari	Ret	2	4	4	4	1	6	DSQ	71
6	Werner Lupberger	Team Ascari	Ret	2	4	4	4	1	6	DSQ	71
8	Christian Pescatori	BMS Scuderia Italia	1	Ret			2		2	4	60
9	Lilian Bryner	BMS Scuderia Italia	2	Ret	2	7	5	Ret	5	Ret	50
9	Enzo Calderari	BMS Scuderia Italia	2	Ret	2	7	5	Ret	5	Ret	50
9	Angelo Zadra	BMS Scuderia Italia	2	Ret	2	7	5	Ret	5	Ret	50
9	Jean-Marc Gounon	BMS Scuderia Italia			1	2		2			50
9	Kremer Racing					Ret		Ret	Ret		50
13	Mauro Baldi	R&M	3	Ret	Ret	3	8	7	4	Ret	41
14	Jean-Christophe Boullion	Pescarolo Sport	Ret	Ret			1			2	35
15	Alex Caffi	Conrero		DNS							29
15	R&M			Ret	3	8	7	4	Ret		29
16	Giovanni Lavaggi	GLV Brums	Ret	1	5	Ret	Ret	Ret		Ret	28
16	Christian Vann	GLV Brums	Ret	1	5	Ret	Ret	Ret			28
18	Laurent Redon	Pescarolo Sport		Ret			1				20
19	Peter Owen	Redman Bright	Ret	4	Ret		7	6		Ret	20
19	Mark Smithson	Redman Bright	Ret	4	Ret		7	6		Ret	20
21	Gary Formato	R&M	3								18
21	Kremer Racing		Ret		6						18
22	Sam Hancock	Kremer Racing	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	Ret	4	Ret	Ret	16
23	Boris Derichebourg	Pescarolo Sport								2	15
24	Guy Smith	Redman Bright		4							10
24	Robbie Stirling	Kremer Racing						4			10

SR2

The SR2 Drivers award went to Thed Björk and Larry Oberto who shared a Lola B2K/40-Nissan entered by SportsRacing Team Sweden.

valign=middle		valign=middle	Driver	valign=middle	Team	BAR	MON	SPA	BRN	MAG	DON	MON	NUR	valign=middle	Total points
1	Thed Björk	SportsRacing Team Sweden	2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
1	Larry Oberto	SportsRacing Team Sweden	2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
3	Warren Carway	Rowan Racing	1		Ret	5	1	1	2	Ret	83
3	Martin O'Connell	Rowan Racing	1		Ret	5	1	1	2	Ret	83
5	Pierguiseppe Peroni	Lucchini Engineering	8	Ret	2	2	Ret	Ret	3	3	57
6	Massimo Saccomanno	Audisio & Benvenuto Racing	3	NC	4	3	Ret	5		2	57
6	Roberto Tonetti	Audisio & Benvenuto Racing	3	NC	4	3	Ret	5		2	57
8	Massimo Monti	BM Autosport	4	Ret	1	Ret	3	Ret			42
8	Renato Nobili	BM Autosport	4	Ret	1	Ret	3	Ret			42
10	Marc Rostan	PiR Competition	7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4	4	6	38
11	Ranieri Randaccio	SCI	9	Ret	8	4	Ret	6	Ret	4	31
12	Mauro Prospero	Lucchini Engineering	DNS	2	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	Ret		30
12	Denny Zardo	Lucchini Engineering	DNS	2	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	Ret		30
12	Jean-Bernard Bouvet	Lucchini Engineering			2	2	Ret				30
15	Leonardo Maddalena	SCI		Ret	8	4	Ret	6	Ret	4	29
16	Pierre Bruneau	PiR Competition	7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4		6	28
17	Raffaele Raimondi	Lucchini Engineering	8	Ret	3	DSQ				3	27
18	Ian Flux	Team Sovereign	5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24
18	Mike Millard	Team Sovereign	5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24
20	Martin Henderson	EBRT Schroeder Motorsport	DNS	4							24
20	Renauer Motorsport			6					5		24
21	Damien Faulkner	SportsRacing Team Sweden							1		20
22	Hannes Gsell	Renauer Motorsport			6	6	Ret			5	20
23	Filippo Francioni	Lucchini Engineering	8	Ret	3	DSQ					15
24	Pasquale Barberio	SCI	9								14
24	Siliprandi		3						Ret		14
25	Gottfried Cepin	Renauer Motorsport	DNS			6				5	14
26	Ezio Mazza	Siliprandi		3						Ret	12
26	Sébastien Ugeux	Lucchini Engineering						Ret	3		12
28	Arturo Merzario	PiR Competition	7	Ret	7	7					12
29	Ian Khan	EBRT Schroeder Motorsport	DNS	4							10
29	Pierre Merche	EBRT Schroeder Motorsport		4							10
29	Ludovico Manfredi	PiR Competition					Ret	4			10
29	Arnie Black	PiR Competition							4		10
33	Simon Wiseman	Swara Racing	6	Ret	Ret	Ret				8	9
34	Earl Goddard	SportsRacing Team Sweden			5						8
35	Ben McLoughlin	Swara Racing	6	Ret							6
35	Heinrich Langfermann	Swara Racing	6								6
35	Wolfgang Griessner	Renauer Motorsport				6					6
38	Piers Johnson	Redman Bright						7			4
38	Oli Wilkinson	Redman Bright						7			4
40	"Frederico Careca"	Swara Racing								8	3

Teams championships

SR1

valign=middle		valign=middle	Team	BAR	MON	SPA	BRN	MAG	DON	MON	NUR	valign=middle	Total points
1	BMS Scuderia Italia	1	Ret	1	2	2	2	2	4	110
2	Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	4	Ret	6	1	3	5	1	3	88
3	Racing for Holland	Ret	3	3	5	6	3	3	1	82
4	Team Ascari	Ret	2	4	4	4	1	6	DSQ	71
5	R&M	3	Ret	Ret	3	8	7	4	Ret	41
6	Pescarolo Sport	Ret	Ret			1			2	35
7	GLV Brums	Ret	1	5	Ret	Ret	Ret		Ret	28
8	Redman Bright	Ret	4	Ret		7	6		Ret	20
9	Kremer Racing	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	Ret	4	Ret	Ret	16

SR2

valign=middle		valign=middle	Team	BAR	MON	SPA	BRN	MAG	DON	MON	NUR	valign=middle	Total points
1	SportsRacing Team Sweden	2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
2	Lucchini Engineering	8	2	2	2	2	Ret	3	3	87
3	Rowan Racing	1		Ret	5	1	1	2	Ret	83
4	Audisio & Benvenuto Racing	3	NC	4	3	Ret	5		2	57
5	BM Autosport	4	Ret	1	Ret	3	Ret			42
6	PiR Competition	7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4	4	6	38
7	SCI	9	Ret	8	4	Ret	6	Ret	4	31
8	Team Sovereign	5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24
9	Renauer Motorsport	DNS		6	6	Ret			5	20
10	Siliprandi		3						Ret	12
11	EBRT Schroder Motorsport	DNS	4							10
12	Swara Racing	6	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret		8	9
13	Redman Bright						7			4

Constructor championships

SR1

Ferrari won the SR1 Constructors title.

valign=middle		valign=middle	Constructor	BAR	MON	SPA	BRN	MAG	DON	MON	NUR	valign=middle	Total points
1	Ferrari	1	1	1	2	2	2	2	4	130
2	Dome	4	3	3	1	3	3	1	1	118
3	Ascari	Ret	2	4	4	4	1	6	DSQ	71
4	Riley & Scott	3	Ret	Ret	3	8	7	4	Ret	41
5	Courage	Ret	Ret			1			2	35
6	Reynard	Ret	4	Ret		7	6		Ret	20
7	Lola	Ret	Ret	Ret	6	Ret	4	Ret	Ret	16

SR2

The SR2 Constructors award went to Lola Cars International.

valign=middle		valign=middle	Constructor	BAR	MON	SPA	BRN	MAG	DON	MON	NUR	valign=middle	Total points
1	Lola	2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
2	Lucchini	3	2	2	2	2	5	3	2	107
3	Pilbeam	1	4	Ret	5	1	1	2	8	96
4	Tampolli	4	Ret	1	6	3	Ret		5	56
5	Debora	7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4	4	6	38
6	LM 3000 (Rapier)	5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24

References

https://web.archive.org/web/20020808140418/http://www.sportscarchampionship.com/history01.htm FIA Sportscar Championship History - 2001
https://web.archive.org/web/20030306005305/http://www.sportscarchampionship.com/2002sportingregulations.htm 2002 Sporting Regulations

External links

Sporting Regulations for the 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Retrieved from web.archive.org on 1 September 2009
Round Results from the 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Retrieved from www.teamdan.com on 1 September 2009
Championship Classifications for the 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Retrieved from web.archive.org on 1 September 2009
Championship Points Tables for the 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Retrieved from web.archive.org on 1 September 2009
Championship Round Summaries for the 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Retrieved from web.archive.org on 1 September 2009
Images from the 2001 FIA Sportscar Championship Retrieved from www.racingsportscars.com on 1 September 2009