Round two of the World GT1 Championship. 24 cars and all the teams have somehow made it out of the desert using planes, trains and automobiles, escaping Abu Dhabi and then spreading out across Europe. There couldn't be a bigger contrast: especially as Silverstone, the home of the British F1 Grand Prix, is in the middle of a major facelift. From

The #04 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9 (Manuel Rodrigues/Frederic Makowiecki) belches flame as it brakes for the Abbey chicane at Silverstone in the second GT3 race on 03 May 2009

The #04 Hexis Racing Aston Martin DBRS9 (Manuel Rodrigues/Frederic Makowiecki) belches flame as it brakes for the Abbey chicane at Silverstone in the second GT3 race on 03 May 2009

FIA GT3 is the sportscar category that seemingly laughs in the face of the global recession. Since its launch in 2006, the grids have been packed and the racing has been frantic: not surprising with almost 40 cars on track for most rounds. Whereas the grid of ground-shaking monsters in the current GT1 category has withered (and died completely in North