Italian GT, Mugello – Race One Reports
Win Number Two For The Corvette Round 5 of the Italian GT Championship saw the series make its summer trip to the "little Nürburgring" of Mugello – also the official Ferrari test track – deep in the Tuscany region, where one can find exceptional food and perhaps the best wine in the country. But such things were, I’m sure, far from the minds of the racers, who were instead focussed on the upcoming challenge. The first of the two races was to be split - one for GT2, GT3 and GT4 cars, the other for the Cup class with the additional of the Lotus Cup machines – while Race 2 would be the usual joint grid. GT2/3/4 Qualifying one was a thriller and, believe it or not, "Captain America" struck back after Imola, with Di Benedetto taking pole in the Corvette by a mere one-thousandth of a second from Bonanomi in the title chasing Audi. The second Audi of Cicognani was third. Fourth was the GT2 Porsche of Coggiola, while only fifth was Cordoni in the Autorlando GT3 R. Sixth was the other GT2 car - the 430 Ferrari of Linossi – while GT4 saw Cressoni taking pole from Lasagni and Cappelletti; all three being in Ginettas.
The start was a no-go after Di Benedetto put the gas down rather too early and they had to do it all again; although rather surprisingly the clock started to run as if it had been a good start. The second start was a good one, even if DI Benedetto started early again, and the Corvette kept the lead from the two Audis, Coggiola in the GT2 Porsche and Cordoni, who had his hands full of Linossi in the other GT2 car. GT4 was progressing in the start-order, with Cressoni from Lasagni and Cappelletti, but we could expect fireworks in the lower class during the race.
At the end of the first lap Di Benedetto was take no prisoners and already had almost two seconds in hand over Bonanomi, while Cicognani was being pressed hard by the Coggiola Porsche.
 |
Cordoni was already losing ground and was in danger of losing his spot to Linossi. Meantime Malavasi decided to have a trip through the sand of the first corner in his Nova Race G50.
The situation soon calmed down as the race continued and very little changed before the pit stop window opened. As expected, Cordoni was the first car to stop, leaving his teammate Joël Camathias with a tough job and a deficit of more than 20 seconds to claw back from the leaders.
In the GT4 class, Cressoni still led with a safe margin from Cappelletti and Lasagni, who were battling each other very hard indeed.
After the pit window closed, the leader with a margin of more than 20 seconds was still the Z06R of Merendino-(Di Benedetto), from Sonvico-(Bonanomi); followed closely by Capello-(Cicognani) then Camathias-(Cordoni). GT2 was led by the Linossi father-daughter combination (“Linos” having taken over from Francesca) from the Coggiola brothers. GT4 now had Piron-(Cappelletti) as the new class leader from Frazza-(Cressoni) then Foglio-(Lasagni), and the standings would now remain unchanged up to the chequered flag.  |
At the head of the field Merendino was taking a safe rhythm to ensure the second overall win for the Corvette, which had now become a true contender in the previously all-German class.  |
Bonanomi-Sonvico finished second, from Capello-Cicognani.
Race two promised to be very different, with the Corvette having a significant time penalty to serve as a result of the win. Result - here GT Cup
Qualifying for the Cup Class - this time mixed with the Lotus one-make Trofeo - saw Porsche rather strangely occupying the top three places; perhaps the latest BoP worked this time? Passuti set the pole with more than 1.5 seconds in hand on the sister car of Fornaroli. Third was Bellini, ahead of the Ferrari 430 of Pierleoni, then the two "heavy" Gallardos of Stancheris and Livio (were they sandbagging a little bit?). Basov, Iacone and Garelli completed the grid for the Cup Class. Iacone switched from Porsche to the Mik Corse Gallardo, partnered by De Giacomi this time.
The time penalty during the pit stop could mess up the standings, with Livio-Piccini having an extra 25 seconds, Sanna-Stancheris 15 and Malucelli-Pierleoni 10. Would it be an all-Porsche fight at the front? Let's find out.  |
At the start Passuti kept the lead, but the first corner saw an unbelievable braking manoeuvre from Pierleoni which propelled the #115 Ferrari from fifth to second. At the same time Livio found the right gap and established himself in third. Then came Fornaroli, Bellini and Stancheris, who was receiving close attention from the Russian Porsche of Basov.
Iacone’s race finished in a cloud of smoke just five minutes in - not a good start to the weekend for him – but things were going better for Passuti, who was pulling away in the lead. Livio outbraked Pierleoni with an astonishing pass for second and just moments later Bellini lost control of his Porsche after spinning, on the oil dropped by Iacone; but he was able to continue. But the oil on track quickly became an issue and the safety car was deployed just to calm down everyone after a very fierce start.
The safety car period was quite a quick one, and at the restart Passuti kept the lead from Livio, Pierleoni, Fornaroli, Stancheris and the recovering Bellini.
Stancheris out-powered Fornaroli on the main straight for the fourth spot, while Passuti pulled out more than seven seconds on Livio, who was battling with Pierleoni.
The mandatory stop didn't mess the standings up too much, and Gagliardini-(Passuti) retained the lead from Mastronardi-(Fornaroli), Malucelli-(Pierleoni), Baccani-(Bellini) and the two heavily penalised Gallardos of Sanna-(Stancheris) and Piccini-(Livio).
Malucelli was soon the fastest guy on track and recovered his entire deficit to Mastronardi, and the duo began a good battle with each other – a very good battle, in fact, because the Ferrari was faster in the slower corners, while the Porsche had the top speed on the straight.
 |
Behind this duo, Baccani was observing the situation and was poised to make the best of any error by the cars in front of him.
There was drama ahead when Gagliardini suffered a right-rear puncture, ending a perfect race for the Antonelli Sport team, but the new lead of Mastronardi was a very short one after Malucelli outbraked the Porsche for the third lead change of the day. Gagliardini meantime was able to pit and change the tyre, but rejoined only seventh.
Was it over? Not quite! Dramas again ahead, as Malucelli slowed dramatically on the main straight for unknown reasons, losing first and second spots; but the rather strangely he was able to regain the rhythm, suggesting electrical gremlins. So the fourth lead change was for Mastronardi, but would he be able to finish first? Second was now Baccani, then the delayed Ferrari of Malucelli and the two Gallardos of Sanna and Piccini.
The last lap saw another little drama when Malucelli slowing again, this time losing 20 seconds, the podium and two other places. Mastronardi’s car, though, stayed healthy and won a very dramatic race for Porsche. Second was another Stuttgart car of Baccani, while third at the end was Sanna; followed by Piccini and the very hurting Ferrari of Malucelli. Gagliardini finished only seventh, even behind the Russian car of Kruglyk-Basov. Result – here Gabriele Tosi |
