Truly I can only speak for VIS and my hood. I would not doubt the gel coat theory. I thought mine was gel coated.

 

I've seen alot of shit used in the automotive industry it could be one or the other smell it if it smells like polyester its probably gel coat. Most of these hood etc. are just one layer of carbon fiber with a polyester fiberglass base. you can just sand it down to 1500 grit and reclear coat it then pollish the hell out of it or if its gel coat then just sand and polish it. don't sand through that precious one layer of carbon tho!

cheers