Francesco Bruni has claimed his first ever victory on the World Match Racing Tour after defeating four-time World Champion Peter Gilmour at Match Race Germany on Lake Constance. The win means his Bruni Racing team trail Damien Iehl’s French Match Racing Team by just two points in the World Match Racing Tour standings after two stages of the 2011 series.

Bruni was in consistent form throughout Match Race Germany, winning Qualifying to earn a direct ticket to the Semi-Finals which he won against Phil Robertson’s WAKA Racing team on count back. In the Final against Gilmour, he upped is game even further and benefited from a series of great calls by his tactician Massimo Bortoletto to win 2-0. Bruni, who has several America’s Cup and Olympic campaigns to his name, said after his first Tour victory: “I believe our races against Peter Gilmour in the Final are the best we’ve sailed. After 12 events we finally won one. My guys have been brilliant and patient with me to give them a win. We’re a bunch of friends with a great team spirit.”

Match Race Germany results :

1. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing –25pts
2. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing – 22pts
3. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing – 19pts
4. Evgeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy – 16pts
5. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 14pts
6. Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners – 12pts
7. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 10pts
8. Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Okalys Corum – 8pts
9. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team – 4pts
10. Bjorn Hansen (DEN) Mekonomen Sailing Team – 2pts
11. William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing – 0pts
12. Stefan Meister (GER) – 0pts

2011 ISAF World Match Racing Tour standings after 2 events :

1. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 39pts
2. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Bruni Racing – 37pts
3. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing – 32pts
4. Jesper Radich (DEN) Adrian Lee & Partners – 28pts
5. Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing – 23pts
6. Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team – 22pts
7. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) The Wave Muscat – 19pts
8. Evgeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy – 16pts
9. Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA) Extreme Team Morbihan – 14pts
10. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team – 10pts

Tags on NauticNews.com : Match Racing – WMRT

Phot credit : Chris Davies/WMRT

-PR-