Mikkel Mac and Alessandro Pier Guidi won Race 2 today at Monza, at the wheel of their Luzich Racing Ferrari 488, with a perfect race that allows the Dane to recover the lead in the overall standings, with 3 points of advantage on Fran Rueda-Andrés Saravia (Teo Martín BMW), today second. Giovanni Venturini-Jeroen Mul finished third in the Imperiale Racing Lamborghini, keeping their title bid alive, although they are now 25 points from the lead. The title will though be decided at the very last round in Barcelona in one month with a three-way battle that promises to be as exciting as ever!
Jiatong Liang and Raffaele Giammmaria conquered their first win in Pro-Am, with the Imperiale Racing Lambo, with Márcio Basso-Guilherme Salas (Teo Martín BMW) doubling yesterday’s success in Am.
THE RACE – The start is quiet, with poleman Fran Rueda keeping the advantage over Pier Guidi and pulling slightly away in first lap. Mul is third, followed by Breukers, Di Folco, Nielsen, Perel, Montermini, Guerrieri and Jäger. Guerrieri, Costa, Da Costa and Ramos go under investigation for cutting the first chicane at first braking.
In lap 3, the Audi of Ellis pits because of a puncture. After 5 laps, Rueda has a 1.1 gap over Pier Guidi and 4 over Mul, with Breukers leading the very compact group behind. Thre fight between Breukers and Di Folco is hot, with the Italian trying to pass with half car on the grass, without success and further slowing those behind, while Perel takes 8th from Guerrieri after grat duel. Also Montermini is in fighting mood, receiving a warning for driving standards and getting tangled in battle with Jäger and Guerrieri , who loses two positions. Salas is first in Am.
In lap 14 opens the driver change window, with Rueda diving into the pits one lap later. The pit stop is fatal for the Ombra Lambo, stuck with technical problems. After all changes, Mac leads with 15 seconds over Saravia and 17 on Venturini, followed closely by Spinelli, Agostini and Salikhov (who loses P1 in Pro-Am following a 10-seconds penalty for jump start), then Ling, Beirão and Baguette. Venturini closes up on Saravia but his first attack is unsuccessful. Ling and Baguette pass Salikhov (lap 26) for 6th and 7th shortly before the safety-car gets on track to allow rescuing the Audi of Wilkinson stopped along the track.
The yellow flag period wipes the gaps, but at the restart Mac keeps the advantage; action is short, though, as Costantini and Hrachowina get in contact at Lesmo 2, and safety-car is deployed again to recover the cars. Restart yields only a last lap of race, with no great changes in positions.
HELLMEISTER’s ACCIDENT – A severe crash occurred after the chequered flag, as Alan Hellmeister lost his Drivex Mercedes in the straight, hitting with violence the barriers on both sides. The Brazilian driver was conscious throughout extrication and, after being stabilized at the Medical Center, he was brought to hospital to be treated for fractures in both legs.
PROVISIONAL STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 12 OF 14
Overall: 1. Mac, 107; 2. Saravia-Rueda, 104; 3. Pier Guidi, 91; 4. Venturini-Mul, 82; 5. Di Amato, 71; 6. Agostini- Breukers, 66; etc
Pro-Am: 1. Ramos-Crestani, 70 points; 2. Pierburg-Onslow Cole, 60; 3. Hahn, 49; 4. Liang-Giammaria, 45; 5. Ellis- Wilkinson, 38; 5. Rugolo-West, 37; etc.
GT-Am: 1. Lewandowski-Borlenghi, 72 points; 2. Konopka, 61; 3. Basso, 54; 4. Hrachowina-Konrad, 53; 5. Coimbra- Silva, 42; 6. Calko, 35; etc
Teams: 1. Luzich Racing, 90 points; 2. Imperiale Racing, 88; 3. BMW Team Teo Martín, 73 points; 4. RS Racing, 37; 5. Ombra Racing, 34; 6. SPS Automotive Performance, 24; etc
