With what is set to be an extremely competitive and diverse grid for the 2017 International GT Open season still forming, 19 cars headed out to Barcelona for the series’ official Winter Test last weekend at Circuit de Catalunya.

Fastest after the two days of on-track action in the sunshine was the Raton Racing Lamborghini (above) which set a 1:45.257 at the hands of 2016 GT Asia champion Edoardo Liberati. Though DSC understands that the Italian found over a second in the final sector on his final flying lap, which may have been due to him cutting the final chicane.

Of the teams that made a positive showing, Chinese team SF Racing also impressed, after Andrea Caldarelli fresh from his Asian Le Mans Series campaign ran fastest on Day 1, with a time six tenths off the Raton entry before a 1:45.554 by the Italian on Day 2 put the team third fastest across the two days.

FFF Racing Team’s Huracan GT3, which will race with Hiroshi Hamaguchi and ex-F1 driver Antonio Luizzi also ran quickly, setting a 1:45.416 on Day 2 after Liuzzi traded fastest times with Liberati.

Defending champion Teo Martin Motorsport was also present and testing its pair of BMW M6 GT3s and a selection of new drivers. The team’s stable in Spain included Jesse Krohn, Rodolfo Gonzalez, Marcio Basso and Victor Bouverg, though it is yet to formally confirm its full-season lineups.

Fastest of the quartet was BMW regular Krohn, who managed a 1.45.726 on Day 2 to go fifth fastest. Outside of the official GT Open test, the team has also completed notable milage ahead of the season behind closed doors.

The only notable incident during the test sadly involved the Spirit of Race Ferrari of Olivier Beretta and Motoai Ishikawa. The team’s 488 GT3 had to be withdrawn from the test on the first day after the car suffered a scary fire which was so fierce that it melted the rear beam behind the engine while Beretta was out on track. Luckily Beretta escaped un-harmed and the team were able to continue with a spare chassis.

Outside of the few Cup/Challenge and GT3 cars on the entry, there were a few surprise additions to the GT Open contingent.

Jordan Racing, which won the 2016 GT Cup Championship on UK soil was present with its Bentley Continental GT3 for David Witt and Christopher Stockton. Its presence marked the first ever Bentley entry into a GT Open-sanctioned event.

FF Corse also brought a 488 GT3 and 458 Challenge car for Johnny Mowlem and Ivor Dunbar, who competed with the team in the Michelin GT3 Le Mans Cup last season – and Benamy Grimes.

“We’re certainly looking at racing in GT Open this year for Ivor, though nothing is confirmed as of yet,” Mowlem told DSC after the test. “So we went to Barcelona to give Ivor a feel for the championship and to get some dry running in the 488. The weather thankfully was perfect in that sense.

“Ivor has improved dramatically over the last year,” Mowlem continued when asked about his Bronze teammate’s recent progress. “Now he’s looking to get some real competition up against people of similar abilities to sharpen his race craft. The field which is very well balanced top to bottom. It was a positive experience for Ivor.

“The GT Open is a great championship, real friendly people, who want to know what you think about it and strive to improve. In some ways it reminds me of the good old days in the American Le Mans Series in terms of friendliness!”

“For me personally, it was also good to be out there having a bit of fun mixing it with guys like Luizzi, Calderelli and Ciocci.”

The second Winter Testing event is scheduled to take place at Paul Ricard on 2-3 March.

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Photos courtesy of GT Open