2001 FIA Sportscar Championship

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 and ended on 16 September after eight races.

Italian won the SR1 drivers' championship, while his BMS Scuderia Italia Ferrari secured the teams' and constructors' titles. The SR2 class was led by American and Swede Thed Björk who drove for . 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	Tyre	No.	Drivers	Rounds
BMS Scuderia Italia	Ferrari 333 SP	Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12	G	1		All
					Christian Pescatori	1–2, 5, 7–8
					Jean-Marc Gounon	3–4, 6
				2		All
						All
					Lilian Bryner	All
						2
GLV Brums	Ferrari 333 SP	Ferrari F310E 4.0 L V12 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	G	3	Giovanni Lavaggi	1–6, 8
						1–6
					Bob Berridge	8
					Xavier Pompidou	8
Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	G	5	John Nielsen	All
Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	G	5		All
	Riley & Scott Mk III	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	G	6	Mauro Baldi	All
						1
					Ivan Capelli	2
					Alex Caffi	3–8
Redman Bright	Reynard 01Q	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	A	7		1–3, 5–6, 8
						1–3, 5–6, 8
					Guy Smith	2
Racing for Holland	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	A G	8	Jan Lammers	All
Racing for Holland	Dome S101	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	A G	8		All
Kremer Racing	Lola B98/10	Ford 6.0 L V8	G	10	Sam Hancock	All
					Ralf Kelleners	1
					Didier de Radiguès	2–3
						2, 4
					Jean-Marc Gounon	5, 7–8
					Robbie Stirling	6
Konrad Motorsport	Lola B2K/10	Ford 6.0 L V8	D	15	Franz Konrad	8
Konrad Motorsport	Lola B2K/10	Ford 6.0 L V8	D	15	Ralf Kelleners	8
Pescarolo Sport	Courage C60	Peugeot A32 3.2 L Turbo V6	G	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	G	17	Ben Collins	All
Team Ascari	Ascari A410	Judd GV4 4.0 L V10	G	17	Werner Lupberger	All
Team Durango	GMS Durango LMP1	BMW 4.0 L V8	G	21		5
Team Durango	GMS Durango LMP1	BMW 4.0 L V8	G	21	Soheil Ayari	5
Conrero	Riley & Scott Mk III	Ford 4.0 L V8	G	25	Alex Caffi	2
						2
					Andrea Chiesa	2

SR2[]

Entrant	Car	Engine	Tyre	No.	Drivers	Rounds
Lucchini Engineering	Lucchini SR2001	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	P	50		1–4
						1–4
						1–2
	Lucchini SR2000			51		1–7
	Lucchini SR2000			51		1–7
	Lucchini SR2001			52		3–8
						3–5
					Sébastien Ugeux	6–7
						8
	Lucchini SR2-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	A	53		2, 8
	Lucchini SR2-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	A	53		2, 8
		Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	A	55		1, 3
						1, 4, 8
						3–5, 8
						3, 8
						4
						5
						5
	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	D	58	Ian Khan	1–2
						1–2
						1
						2
		Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	P	59	Massimo Monti	1–6
		Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	P	59		1–6
	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	A	61		1, 3–8
	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	A	61		1, 3–8
	Lucchini SR2-99	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	A	65		2, 4, 8
						2
						2
						4
						8
	Lucchini SR2001		G	66		1–6, 8
	Lucchini SR2001		G	66		1–6, 8
		Nissan 3.0 L V6	A	68	Michael Mallock	4–6, 8
						4
					Phil Andrews	5–6, 8
	Pilbeam MP84			69		1–3, 8
						1–2
						1
					Michael Mallock	2–3
					""	8
	Lucchini SR2000	Alfa Romeo 3.0 L V6	G	72		All
						1
						2–8
	Rapier 6	Nissan 3.0 L V6	D	75		1, 3, 5–6, 8
	Rapier 6	Nissan 3.0 L V6	D	75		1, 3, 5–6, 8
	Lola B2K/40	Nissan 3.0 L V6	A	76	Thed Björk	All
						All
					Stanley Dickens	2
						3
					Damien Faulkner	7
Redman Bright	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	A	77		6
Redman Bright	Pilbeam MP84	Nissan 3.0 L V6	A	77		6
	Debora LMP299	BMW 3.0 L I6	A	99	Marc Rostan	All
						1–6, 8
					Arturo Merzario	1–4
						5–6
						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
1	Barcelona	Christian Pescatori
2	Monza	No. 3 GLV Brums	No. 76
2	Monza	Giovanni Lavaggi	Thed Björk
3	Spa	No. 1 BMS Scuderia Italia	No. 59
3	Spa	Jean-Marc Gounon	Massimo Monti
4	Brno	No. 5 Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	No. 76
4	Brno	John Nielsen	Thed Björk
5	Magny-Cours	No. 16 Pescarolo Sport	No. 61
5	Magny-Cours	Jean-Christophe Boullion Laurent Rédon
6	Donington	No. 17 Team Ascari	No. 61
6	Donington	Ben Collins Werner Lupberger
7	Mondello	No. 5 Den Bla Avis/Team Goh	No. 76
7	Mondello	John Nielsen	Damien Faulkner Thed Björk
8	Nürburgring	No. 8 Racing for Holland	No. 76
8	Nürburgring	Jan Lammers	Thed Björk

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]

Points system
Event	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th	9th	10th
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.

Pos.	Driver	Team									Total points
1		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		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		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		BMS Scuderia Italia	2	Ret	2	7	5	Ret	5	Ret	50
9		BMS Scuderia Italia	2	Ret	2	7	5	Ret	5	Ret	50
9	Jean-Marc Gounon	BMS Scuderia Italia			1	2		2			50
9	Jean-Marc Gounon	Kremer Racing					Ret		Ret	Ret	50
13	Mauro Baldi		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	Alex Caffi				Ret	3	8	7	4	Ret	29
16	Giovanni Lavaggi	GLV Brums	Ret	1	5	Ret	Ret	Ret		Ret	28
16		GLV Brums	Ret	1	5	Ret	Ret	Ret			28
18	Laurent Redon	Pescarolo Sport		Ret			1				20
19		Redman Bright	Ret	4	Ret		7	6		Ret	20
19		Redman Bright	Ret	4	Ret		7	6		Ret	20
21			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

Colour	Result
Gold	Winner
Silver	2nd place
Bronze	3rd place
Green	Points finish
Blue	Non-points finish
Blue	Non-classified finish (NC)
Purple	Retired (Ret)
Red	Did not qualify (DNQ)
Red	Did not pre-qualify (DNPQ)
Black	Disqualified (DSQ)
White	Did not start (DNS)
	Withdrew (WD)
	Race cancelled (C)
Blank	Did not practice (DNP)
	Did not arrive (DNA)
	Excluded (EX)

SR2[]

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

Pos.	Driver	Team									Total points
1	Thed Björk		2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
1			2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
3			1		Ret	5	1	1	2	Ret	83
3			1		Ret	5	1	1	2	Ret	83
5		Lucchini Engineering	8	Ret	2	2	Ret	Ret	3	3	57
6			3	NC	4	3	Ret	5		2	57
6			3	NC	4	3	Ret	5		2	57
8	Massimo Monti		4	Ret	1	Ret	3	Ret			42
8			4	Ret	1	Ret	3	Ret			42
10	Marc Rostan		7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4	4	6	38
11			9	Ret	8	4	Ret	6	Ret	4	31
12		Lucchini Engineering	DNS	2	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	Ret		30
12		Lucchini Engineering	DNS	2	Ret	Ret	2	Ret	Ret		30
12		Lucchini Engineering			2	2	Ret				30
15				Ret	8	4	Ret	6	Ret	4	29
16			7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4		6	28
17		Lucchini Engineering	8	Ret	3	DSQ				3	27
18			5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24
18			5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24
20			DNS	4							24
20					6					5	24
21	Damien Faulkner								1		20
22					6	6	Ret			5	20
23		Lucchini Engineering	8	Ret	3	DSQ					15
24			9								14
24				3						Ret	14
25			DNS			6				5	14
26				3						Ret	12
26	Sébastien Ugeux	Lucchini Engineering						Ret	3		12
28	Arturo Merzario		7	Ret	7	7					12
29	Ian Khan		DNS	4							10
29				4							10
29							Ret	4			10
29									4		10
33			6	Ret	Ret	Ret				8	9
34					5						8
35			6	Ret							6
35			6								6
35						6					6
38		Redman Bright						7			4
38		Redman Bright						7			4
40	""									8	3

Teams championships[]

SR1[]

Pos.	Team									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		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[]

Pos.	Team									Total points
1		2	1	5	1	DSQ	2	1	1	118
2	Lucchini Engineering	8	2	2	2	2	Ret	3	3	87
3		1		Ret	5	1	1	2	Ret	83
4		3	NC	4	3	Ret	5		2	57
5		4	Ret	1	Ret	3	Ret			42
6		7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4	4	6	38
7		9	Ret	8	4	Ret	6	Ret	4	31
8		5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24
9		DNS		6	6	Ret			5	20
10			3						Ret	12
11		DNS	4							10
12		6	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret	Ret		8	9
13	Redman Bright						7			4

Constructor championships[]

SR1[]

Ferrari won the SR1 Constructors title.

Pos.	Constructor									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.

Pos.	Constructor									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		4	Ret	1	6	3	Ret		5	56
5	Debora	7	Ret	7	7	Ret	4	4	6	38
6	(Rapier)	5		DNS		Ret	3		7	24

References[]

^ FIA Sportscar Championship History - 2001 Retrieved from web.archive.org on 1 September 2009
^ 2002 Sporting Regulations Retrieved from web.archive.org on 23 December 2008

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

[1] FIA Sportscar Championship History - 2001 Retrieved from web.archive.org on 1 September 2009

[Regs-2] 2002 Sporting Regulations Retrieved from web.archive.org on 23 December 2008

[1]

[2]