Benucci-Balzan (Ferrari 458 Italia) win race-2 in Vallelunga's 5th round of the Italian GT Championship

MP1 Corse's drivers proceeded the Audi of Capello-Zonzini and the Ferrari of Malucelli-Frassineti, while the Lamborghini Gallardos monopolized GT Cup's podium with Mancinelli-Goldstein leading Tempesta-Iacone and "El Pato”-Zanardini.

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Nicola Benucci and Alessandro Balzan (Ferrari 458 Italia) are race-2 winners of the 5th round of the Italian GT Championship, race held at the Circuit of Vallelunga.

The lineup of MP1 Corse proceeded the Audi R8 LMS (Audi Sport Italia) of Capello-Zonzini by 4"649s and Malucelli-Frassineti (Team Malucelli) by 5"978s. Classification leaders Casè- Giammaria (Ferrari 458 Italia-Scuderia Baldini 27) ended sixth and therefore pulled away in the classification from Mapelli-Schoeffler (Audi R8 LMS-Audi Sport Italia) that had to retire half way through due to a technical inconvenience when leading the race.

In GT Cup, the Lamborghini Gallardos displayed dominance with Mancinelli-Goldstein (Eurotech Engineering) proceeding the two cars lined up by Bonaldi Motorsport for Tempesta-Iacone, who get the classification lead, and for "El Pato"-Zanardini.

In the GT3 classification Casè and Giammaria reached 90 points and proceed Mapelli and Schoeffler (84) and Nicola Benucci (79), while Tempest and Iacone got past Omar Galbiati in GT Cup and now stand at 121 points, that is two clear of Galbiati.


RACE-2 AS IT HAPPENED: Mapelli got the lead at the start while behind him, Bortolotti and Casè started a good fight with several position exchanges. Frassineti followed in fourth, ahead of Zonzini, Benucci, Carboni, Lucchini and Donativi, while Iacone led Zanardini and Zampieri in GT Cup.

Bortolotti had to concede the third position to Frassineti at lap two and a lap afterwards, he had to stop for an electrical problem but managed to get back on track after a short stop. The driver from Trento was forced again to the pits at lap four and in this occasion he replaced a spark plug. Meanwhile, Bodega got the third position in GT Cup behind Iacone and Zanardini.

On top, Mapelli kept a security margin of about two seconds to Casè. Frassineti was third proceeding Zonzini, Benucci, Carboni, Lucchini and Donativi in order. At lap 12 the drivers change window opened. Capello (who replaced Zonzini) found himself on top proceeding Balzan when all cars were back on track, but the latter managed to get the lead of the race at lap 18.

Behind them, Malucelli, Beretta, Gagliardini, Ferrara, Giammaria, Segal and Romani followed in order, while "El Pato" got the lead ahead of Tempesta and Alessandri in GT Cup.

Ferrara managed to get the most out of a good duel taking fifth from Gagliardini at lap 21. Ebimotors' driver also had to concede his position to Giammaria but managed to fend off the American Segal.

In GT Cup, the fight for the podium got more and more intense. Tempesta got the lead while Mancinelli, after a good comeback was closing in to "El Pato", who was forced to give his position away at the second last lap.

The fight for the top did not live any further emotion as Balzan crossed the finish line claiming a deserved win proceeding Capello and Malucelli. The fourth place went to a very good Beretta who finished ahead of Ferrara, Giammaria, Gagliardini, Segal and Romani, while Mancinelli, thanks to the penalty of his rival due to an erroneous procedure of drivers change, claimed a photo-finish win in GT Cup from Tempesta to "El Pato".

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