Italian GT, Vallelunga – Qualifying Report
Several Surprises The Italian GT Championship reconvened after the summer break to discover that the schedule for the races had been changed since…Friday! Saturday afternoon would see two split races, one for GT2,GT3 and GT4 cars (with a rather thin grid of just over 10 cars) and, soon after, another for the GT Cup cars, which would be running with the one-make Maserati cars; a rather intriguing decision.
For Saturday’s race, the overall pole went to Paolo Ruberti (now 100% healthy after the virus which struck him at Imola and the bad accident at the 24 hours of Spa), whose Porsche was fastest by almost one second from the first of the Audi R8s, with Bonanomi at the wheel. Third was the Vette of Di Benedetto, then the only GT2 car of DeLorenzi, followed by the second R8 of Capello and the other newcomer the GT3 Ferrari of Geri.
The GT4 class was the usual territory of the Ginettas, with Cappelletti on pole from Saggese and Lasagni.
GT Cup pole and a clean sweep of the first row went to the Gallardos of Sanna and Piccini, almost one second faster than an all-Porsche second row occupied by Passuti and Baccani.
Fifth was another Porsche of Fornaroli, then the points-leader Pierleoni.
Second qualifying was yet another story, where the slower teammate struggles and the newcomer shines. Overall pole went to Marco Cioci, a longtime Italian GT ace who has raced everything, everywhere. So pole number one for him, and for the Ferrari with the first outing of the 458 GT3 Italia. Second was Merendino with a strongly performing Vette, definitely a car to watch alongside the Ferrari for overall victory. The second row went, as predicted, to the Audis, Sonvico third and Giraudi fourth. At this point, splitting the points-leaders Bonanomi and Sonvico hadn’t provided Audi Sport Italia with a good result, but the races could well tell a different story. Saying that, with the Audis having to contend with significant time-handicaps in the pit-stop, could Race 1 finish without an Audi on the podium? Cordoni did his best in the Autorlando Porsche, but he’s clearly the slowest of the second-drivers in the GT3 field.
GT Cup saw a Porsche pole for Mastronardi, who, on his home soil, clearly knew every inch of the Vallelunga track. Second and third again were the Gallardos, with Livio in front of Stancheris. Only seventh was the points-leader Malucelli, clearly struggling on a track normally suited for the Ferrari. Keep in mind that alongside the Cup cars is the Maserati Trofeo field. Potential trouble ahead? Almost certainly.
Gabriele Tosi | 
