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GTSPRINT: 6 car brands, drivers from 13 countries in Brno

The freshest International FIA-approved series is ready to continue in its growth. This weekend, the GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES will be lining-up at Brno for the second round of the 2013 season with drivers coming from 13 different countries.

Belarusian Alexander Talkanitsa Sr, who lined-up with his son Alexander Jr at Monza and went on to win Race 1, will be back in contention on a Ferrari 458 while Swede Johan Kristoffersson will join German Thomas Schöffler on an Audi. Colombian Steven Goldstein is set to join Spaniard Antonio De La Renia while Ukranians Ruslan Tsyplakov and Adrii Kruglyk (joined by Raffaele Giammaria) will drive the Team Ferrari Ukraine cars.

Belgian Adrien and Pierre Marie De Leener are set to race a Maserati while young Finn Antti Buri will be in control of a Viper GTS. Four Slovakians are also expected: Patrik Tkáč and Andy Studenič will drive a Ferrari 458 for Dino and Co Racing Team, while Miro Konopka (joined by Hungarian Attila Barta) will be campaigning a BMW Alpina B6 for Racing Trevor. Last but not least, Lubomir Jakubik will run with Czech Michael Vorba for Scuderia Praha, also fielding an all-Czech Ferrari for Dennis Waszek and David Palmi.

Brazilian Fernando Croce, Thai Ramindra Tanakorn and Monaco-based Cedric Sbirrazzuoli are also set to join the game representing the Ferrari brand.

COMPETITIVE FIELD OF FERRARI 458 RACERS EXPECTED

With an highly-international field of drivers, the Brno event will be top notch in terms of car counts and Ferrari is set to play a major role. The Maranello invasion will be led by AMATO FERRARI and his team, lining-up to repeat the great results scored at Monza. The Italian-based squad will count on the experienced pair of TANAKORN-SBIRRAZZUOLI. The latter will be at his comeback in the series after having ended up the 2010 season in fourth place.

FERRARI UKRAINE will be part of the field with technical support from AF Corse and two Ferrari 458. Making his GTSPRINT debut will be Diego ROMANINI, lining up for a double effort between Brno and the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring. He's going to share the EASY RACE ride with TOMMASO ROCCA. Ombra Racing team manager DAVIDE MAZZOLENI kept his promise to field two cars as he added a second 458 to pair reigning GTS3 Champion Mario Cordoni and Massimo Mantovani with rookie Brazilian racer FERNANDO CROCE and Stefano Costantini.

JOHAN KRISTOFFERSSON JOINS AUDI, MASERATI, PORSCHE AND CORVETTE AIM FOR WINS

One of the most welcome additions will be reigning SUPERSTARS champion Johan Kristoffersson, driving an GTSPRINT Audi for the first time. The Swede will share an R8 GTS3 racer with young German Thomas Schöffler for MTM Motorsport. After the valuable podium finish in Race 2 at Monza the Swiss Team and the Maserati MC GT3. Behind the wheel, Max Pigoli and Andrea Dromedari will go for more glory in Czech Republic. Another Maserati, fielded by AF Corse in the GTS Cup Trophy, is set to be driven by Belgian Adrien and Pierre Marie De Leener. The same category will include the Porsche 997 lined-up by Heaven Motorsport for the 2011 champions, Colombian Steven Goldstein and Spaniard Antonio de la Reina. Another Porsche, the Autorlando Sport 997 GTS3 model, will challenge for wins with Glauco Solieri. The driver line-up of the RC Motorsport Corvette Z06, driven by the Necchi-Del Castello duo at Monza, is yet to be finalized.

GTS OPEN WELCOME BMW AND DODGE

The GTSPRINT round at Brno will also feature new car brands. The series will welcome a BMW Alpina B6 fielded in the GTS Open class by Racing Trevor and driven by the experienced Attila Barta and Miro Konopka. Finnish driver Antti Buri will also be back in the series after having made his debut last season at Spa-Francorchamps with double podium finishes. He will be back on an LMS Racing-prepared Dodge Viper.

SUPERSTARS WORLD WEEKEND

In addition to the SUPERSTARS INTERNATIONAL SERIES and GTSPRINT, the Czech weekend of the series will also feature the Ferrari Challenge Europa (40 cars are on the roster) and the Volkswagen Castrol Cup. Large crowds are expected on the grandstands and in the paddock, set for the popular Paddock Show entertainment which features press conferences, victory celebrations and autograph sessions.

TV COVERAGE

GTSPRINT will once again benefit from a large worldwide TV coverage. Live broadcasts of the races will be provided in 61 countries. Race 1 will be taking-off on Sunday at 09-15, followed by Race 2 at 17-30 in the afternoon.