Simonsen Again!

I wonder what 'Deja Vu' is in Danish? It might have been a new year for the reigning Australian GT Champion - Allan Simonsen - but the result was the same as 2007 and 2006. Domination. Pole. Fastest lap and three wins from three starts.

Once again, the opening round of the GT Championship was held at Sydney's Eastern Creek International Raceway alongside the popular A1GP Championship.

But there were a few of differences in 2008. Firstly it was wet. Secondly, Simonsen was in his championship winning Marenello Motorsport Ferrari 430GT. And thirdly, whilst long time sponsor Coopers was back onboard, Melbourne-based Real Estate group Kay & Burton had joined the team adding vaulable support.

Large crowds had flocked to the Sydneyside circuit, despite the weather, and were duly rewarded with exciting races - none more so that the final GT event.

"The heavens really opened up just before the final race and I thought the officials may have called it off but I'm really glad they didn't, said Simonsen.

"It gave the public what they wanted and I've ended up with a dream start to the season.

"It's only a few weeks until Clipsal 500 in Adelaide and that will be huge as it always is. I won the event there last year and the pressure was on with Bryce Washington rolling out his new Rieter Engineering Lamborghini Gallardo. There are now three (Lamborghini's) in the championship at the moment and I think that may increase to five in a short while. The Aston Martin wasn't there last year either so it going to be a super event and it will be very hot.

"Traditionally Clipsal is hard on the body because of the heat and being a street circuit with concrete barriers its difficult for the heat to escape. This year Clipsal is a month earlier than usual and February is Adelaide's hottest month."

Whilst Clipsal 500 Adelaide is held February 21-24, Simonsen will still be very busy in the lead up with a test program planned in Zuhai, China, next week.

"It'll be hot and humid up there so it's a good excercise in its own right.

Simonsen has an enormously busy 2008 program adding a 10 round FIA GT drive with Gigawave Digital in their Aston Martin DBR-9 GT1 to the mix.

"I've only done the odd FIA GT gig before, like Spa 24 Hour in 2006 with Scuderia Ecosse in their Ferrari F430 GT2, so I'm pretty excited. The Aston Martin isn't completely new to me though as I've done several tests at Paul Ricard before.

"Gigawave is a mega team and has a fabulous organisation in place. Their people are really excellent - in fact I worked with team boss Steve Hagger at Veloqz back in 2002 and things went really well. I'm very pleased to be part of the team and it's an awesome opportunity and one that will be my main focus for the year. I'll be giving it 110% effort!

The Eastern Creek Australian GT opener was not Simonsen's first event for the year. In early January he was called up to join dual Porsche Supercup Champion Richard Westbrook and fellow Dane Lars Erik Nielsen in a Proton Competition Porsche 997 GT3 RSR for the 24 Hour of Dubai. Despite having never been to the Motor City circuit, Simonsen looked the pro he is straight out of the gate, setting fastest time in practice and holding pole in the two hour qualifying session, until the very last second, where New Zealander Craig Baird snatched the top spot, after taking advantage on a sudden drop in ambient temperatures. The pairing led the race until the 4th hour, when Nielsen became an innocent victim in someonelses crash, retiring the car on the spot.

Simonsen will also contest the five round Le Mans Series with f Nielsen, in a Porsche 997 GT3 RSR. Nielsen teamed with Simonsen for his rookie attempt at the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours and was rewarded with a 3rd place in the highly competitive GT2 category. Simonsen also set the second fastest time in the history of GT2 racing at the official test day in early June 2007. In addition, he will also once again team up with Hector Lestor for the British GT Championship in the Christians in Motorsport Ferrari F430 GT3.