Two tight races have been run in the first day of the fifth round of the Italian GT Championship in Vallelunga.

The victory of class Super GT3 went to Frassineti-Gattuso (Lamborghini Huracan-Ombra Racing), that led Agostini-Di Folco (Lamborghini Huracan-Antonelli Motorsport) by 3"240s and Venturi-Gai (Ferrari 488 GT3-Black Bull Swisse Racing) by 13"666s.

In GT3, the victory went to Postiglione-Gagliardini (Lamborghini Gallardo-Imperiale Racing) as Leo-Cheever (Ferrari 458 Italia-Scuderia Baldini 27) and Zonzini-Russo (Audi R8 LMS-Audi Sport Italia) completed the podium. In Super GT Cup, the race reserved for the Lamborghini Huracans, the top step of the podium was taken by Liberati-Ling (Antonelli Motorsport), while Benvenuti-Demarchi (Lamborghini Gallardo-Imperiale Racing) won GT Cup.

In GT4, the victory went to Cerati-Ghezzi (Porsche 997-Autorlando), while in the Cayman Cup, Riccardo Pera  (Ebimotors) claimed the fifth win of the season. Two more races to follow tomorrow, both live on TV on Raisport2 (Super GT3 and GT3) and AutomotoTV (SGT Cup, GT Cup, GT4 and Cayman Cup).


SUPER GT3: The first victory for Ombra Racing drivers arrived in Vallelunga. At the start, Frassineti managed to gain three places and to install himself behind Venturi and Albuquerque, leading Mul, Venturini, Cheever, Di Folco, Mugelli and Comandini. The melee of the start saw Linossi, Tempesta and Baccani going out, while Geri hit Russo that had to rejoin last.
An unleashed Venturi started pulling away and at lap 10 he held a 5s lead on Albuquerque, while Frassineti was in the tail of Audi's driver. Thanks also to time handicaps, after the drivers change Gattuso, who took over from Frassineti, closed in on Gai, finding his way past him at lap 19. Black Bull Racing's driver had a moment while defending himself and had to concede his position also to Agostini, slipping down into third leading Sini, Mapelli, Bortolotti, Postiglione and Cerqui. At the following lap, Mapelli overtook Sini for P4, and started closing in on Gai. The driver from Milan did his best to defend the third place all the way to the flag, that saw Gattuso first, leading Agostini, as Mapelli was fourth followed by Sini, Bortolotti, Comandini, Walkinshaw and Schirò.

GT3: A well deserved victory for Postiglione-Gagliardini arrived after the bad luck of the past two races of Mugello. In the first stint Gagliardini held P3 behind Cheever and Baccani, while Russo had a contact with Geri and was forced to rejoin from last. Bad luck also for Tempesta who went off early on, but then recovered to P5 behind Luca Pastorelli. The latter had an excursion at lap 10 but luckily he managed to rejoin even if lapped. At the drivers change, Leo took over from Cheever, but the time handicap served in the pits allowed Gagliardini's co-equiper, Postiglione, to take the lead proceeding Venerosi who took it over from Baccani. Ebimotors' had to concede P2 to Leo during lap 21, and the race headed to its end with these positions. At the flag, Postiglione was first, leading Scuderia Baldini 27's driver, while Zonzini managed to get the third step of the podium off Venerosi at the end of a good comeback race. Galassi was fifth and proceeded Pastorelli.

Super GT Cup: The race was held under heavy rain and started behind the safety car. At the restart, Spinelli took the lead pulling away on a tricky circuit. Behind him, Nemoto, Zaugg and Baruch started a nice fight. The three drivers exchanged positions several times in a battle that ended at lap 9 with pit stops, when Zaugg managed to find his way past both rivals. The South African managed to overtake Spinelli too at lap 14, when he took the lead before diving into the pits to change driver. Back on track, Necchi took over from Spinelli leading Liang, D'Amico, who had to serve 20s handicap time, Liberati, Pellegrinelli and Mantovani. Heavy rain continued falling and the race got inflamed again as Liberati started a good comeback race. Antonelli Motorsport's driver found his way past D'Amico first and Liang then, starting to chase Necchi. At lap 22 he closed in on him and the driver from Piedmont had to concede his position to Liberati, while Pellegrinelli had the best on D'Amico, and in the closing stages he was forced to give his position also to Costa. Liberati closed the race leading Necchi, Liang, Pellegrinelli, Costa, D'Amico, Desideri and Tanca.

GT Cup: Good but also helped by track conditions favouring the 4WD Gallardos, Benvenuti-De Marchi deserved the fifth win of the season leading the race since the start. Benvenuti proceeded Durante, Sauto, Trentin, Romani and Curti, in the first stint, while Demarchi led Zanardini, Carboni, Palazzo and Curti in the second. Carboni passed Zanardini at lap 17, trailing Demarchi. Positions did not change until the flag, with Demarchi leading Carboni, Zanardini, Palazzo and Curti, while Romani-Deodati did not finish due to a technical problem that forced them to retire at lap 11.

GT4 and Cayman Cup: The victory of class GT4 went to Cerati-Ghezzi (Porsche 997-Autorlando), while the 16 yrs old Riccardo Pera was unbeatable in the Cayman Cup. Cecotto took the lead at the start, leading Ebimotors' driver, Zangari and Piccioli; after the drivers change, Mercatali was on top but at lap 13 he was overtaken by Pera, while De Castro was third and proceeded Zangari. De Castro overtook Mercatali, who made a mistake, and closed second behind Pera, leading Dinamic Motorsport's driver and Zangari brothers.

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