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The Mercedes SLS takes its first wins in the GT1 world championship, with the victories of both team Munnich's pair : Basseng/Winkelhock and Pastorelli/Jager at Portimao.

Both AF Corse's Ferrari blocked the front row of the grid after the qualifying session. Markus Winkelhock, who started from third position on his Mercedes SLS moved up to second in the first part of the race, then the SLS emerged in the lead after the mandatory pit stop. His team mate Marc Basseng then pulled away in front to secure the first win for Mercedes with a eight second margin over Buurman and Bartels' BMW Z4.

Start of the Portimao race. (Photo: FIA GT)

The winning SLS started from pole position and led the first lap of championship race. But the McLaren MP4/12C driven by Makowiecki and Dusseldorp inherited the lead after the pit stop, ahead of both Mercedes. On the second SLS, Jager was able to overtake his team mate Basseng (who replaced Winkelhock) for second, then made the move to take the lead ahead of Dusseldorp, who was then also passed by Basseng for a 1-2 victory for Mercedes in Portugal.

Qualifying race:
1 - Basseng/Winkelhock (Mercedes SLS) - Munnich - 32 laps in 1h00'08"853
2 - Buurman/Bartels (BMW Z4) - Vita4One - 8"460

3 - Stippler/Jarvis (Audi R8) - WRT - 16"763

4 - Makowiecki/Dusseldorp (McLaren MP4/12C) - Hexis - 17"267

5 - Mayr-Melnhof/Lauda (BMW Z4) - Vita4One - 20"851
Etc.

Championship race:
1 - Pastorelli/Jager (Mercedes SLS) - Munnich - 33 laps in 1h00'25"723

2 - Basseng/Winkelhock (Mercedes SLS) - Munnich - 1"537

3 - Makowiecki/Dusseldorp (McLaren MP4/12C) - Hexis - 5"163

4 - O'Young/Kox(Lamborghini Gallardo) - Reiter - 6"511

5 - Buurman/Bartels (BMW Z4) - Vita4One - 6"878
Etc.

Championship:
1. Bartels-Buurman 88 points; 2. Basseng-Winkelhock 83; 3. Dusseldorp-Makowiecki 82; 4. Jager-Pastorelli 73; 5. Ortelli-Vanthoor 58, etc.