At the flag the pairing proceeded the 458 Italia Ferraris of Lucchini-Pierguidi (BMS-Scuderia Italia) and Balzan-Benucci (MP1 Corse). GT Cup victory to Fabrizio Bignotti from Passuti-Galbiati (Porsche 997).
Stunning victory for Dindo Capello and Emanuele Zonzini (Audi R8 LMS ultra) in race-1 at Misano’s opener of the Italian GT Championship.
Audi Sport Italia’s color bearers proceeded at the flag the two Ferrari 458 Italia of Lucchini-Pierguidi (BMS-Scuderia Italia) and Balzan-Benucci (MP1 Corse), that were respectively delayed by 6″817s and 7″229s in a race that has been quite tight until the end.
At the start, the polesitter Mapelli got the lead ahead of Balzan and Amici that started a good duel for P2. Behind them, Babini, Giammaria and Barba established themselves, but the Spanish driver was forced soon afterwards to the retirement due to a mechanical failure. In GT Cup, Passuti got the lead ahead of Bignotti e “El Pato”.
Balzan managed to get Mapelli’s slipstream at lap 7. The driver from Lecco has been good in keeping his lead, while Amici kept the third place ahead of Babini, Giammaria, Capello, Pezzucchi, Donativi , Mora, Carboni , Lucchini and Magli.
Amici spun at lap 11 losing in this way several positions. Babini was promoted third but the Autorlando driver was later on taken by Giammaria. Passuti confirmed to be on top in GT Cup Passuti leading Bignotti while “El Pato” regained P3 due to a spin of Macori.
Drivers swaps started at lap 12 as Mapelli was leading Balzan by only half a second. The driver from Rovigo managed to get the lead at lap 15 after Audi’s driver had to slow down due to an electric problem on his R8.
At the end of all drivers swap, Benucci, who replaced Balzan, was leading Casè by 18 seconds, who was in turn followed by Zonzini, Bianco, Schoeffler, Mora, Gagliardini, Pezzucchi, Beretta and Ferrara. In GT Cup Galbiati, who repalced Passuti, led Bignocchi and Bodega.
The advantage of the pacesetter Benucci went down to only seven seconds to Zonzini at lap 21. The driver from Saint Marin proceeded Casè, Bianco, Schoeffler, Mora and Pier Guidi, as the latter was putting in a comeback. An intense duel gave Pier Guidi the fourth place at lap 24 while Bianco and Schoeffler were left behind in the fight with Gagliardini and Mora. The duel ended at lap 26 when the Ebimotors driver had to retire following a contact with the Mercedes driven by the Spaniard. Zonzini meanwhile completed his comeback to the race leader Benucci, getting the lead and starting to pull away.
In the fight for the third place, Casè proceeded Pier Guidi, Mora and Ferrara. The driver from Bari produced a good recover taking him from P13 to the fight with the frontrunners. Galbiati kept the lead of the GT Cup ahead of Bignotti and Alessandri. The race was not finished though. At lap 29 Pier Guidi managed to overtake Casè for P3 behind Zonzini and Benucci. The latter could not fend off the attacks of Pier Guidi at the last lap and gave the second place to the BMS-Scuderia Italia’s driver.
At the flag, Zonzini got a deserved victory leading Pier Guidi and Benucci, Casè was fourth crossing the line ahead Mora, Ferrara, Bianco, Schoeffler, Malucelli and Pezzucchi. The other positions of GT3 were: Benedetti-D’Amico (11^), Amati-De Lorenzi (12^), Amici-Barri (13^). In GT Cup, while eying the finish line, Galbiati made a mistake and handed the victory at the photo-finish to Bignotti ,while the third place went to Alessandri.
Race 2 will start tomorrow at 11 (local time) with Alessandro Pier Guidi starting from the pole position.