The 15th edition of the Italian GT Championship started on a high with thirty-three crews making it to the track for the first two races of the season.
The victory of Super GT3 and GT3 went to Venturi-Gai (Ferrari 488 Italia-Black Bull Swisse Racing) that proceeded the Lamborghini Huracan of Frassineti-Beretta (Ombra Racing) by 1”262s and the sister car of Malucelli-Cheerver (Scuderia Baldini 27) by 12”368s.
The race of Super GT Cup-GT Cup-GT4 saw Vincenzo Sospiri Racing taking the win locking out the podium with D’Amico-Cazzaniga, Jia Tong-Ortiz and Tujula-Vainio closing in the order on the Lamborghini Huracan. Two races are scheduled for tomorrow with live coverage on Rai Sport Rai Sport (SGT3-GT3) and AutomotoTV (SGT Cup-GT Cup-GT4).
SUPER GT3: The season opened as it closed in 2016, that is with the victory going to reigning champions of Super GT3 Venturi-Gai (Ferrari 488). Black Bull Swisse Racing’s drivers led a perfect first stint with Venturi putting some pressure on Malucelli, who started on top behind the safety car that was necessary due to the light rain. In the second part of the race, Gai took the lead after the driver change and kept the position until the chequered flag, leading the Lamborghini Huracan of Frassineti-Beretta. Ombra Racing took P3 early on after a mistake made by Treluyer (Audi R8 LMS), while Beretta took P2 overtaking Cheever after the driver change. The driver from Rome, Malucelli’s co-equiper, was third on the podium, fending off the attacks moved by Schirò (Ferrari 488). The latter, after the great start put in by Melo, fought with Agostini (Lamborghini Huracan), who ended fifth with his co-equiper Zampieri closed their effort only half a second to the podium.
Comandini-Cerqui (BMW GT3) ended their debut race in sixth place, proceeding the Lamborghini Huracans of Valente-Veglia and Baruch-Leo, while Treluyer-Ghirelli were eighth. Audi Sport Italia’s lineup was penalized in the first stint by an error of the French driver, who was in a great P3 at the start, but lost six positions, while Ghirelli could not improve his position in the second stint due to a problem to the third gear. Pastorelli-Pezzucchi (Mercedes AMG GT3) were tenth absolute.
GT3: While waiting for the arrival of some further cars from the round of Misano, GT3 had three lineups on track in Imola. The victory went to Venerosi-Baccani, on the Porsche GT3R run by Ebimotors, that proceeded the Corvette Z06 of Del Castello-Colajanni run by Erreci Proracing. Del Castello took the lead at the start, leading Magli and Veronesi, but Easy Race driver and co-equiper La Mazza had to retire at lap ten due to a problem to the gearbox o his Ferrari 458 Italia. Baccani took the car over from Venerosi for the second stint and started chasing Colajanni, on the Corvette, managing to find his way past him at lap 15 before pulling away towards the first win of the season.
Super GT Cup: Race-1 has been a triumphant run for Vincenzo Sospiri Racing that locked out the podium. D’Amico-Cazzaniga got on the top step of the podium leading team mates Jia Tong-Ortiz and Tujula-Vainio. Basz took the lead at the start, but the Pole of Antonelli Motorsport was handed a drive through due to jump start, and left the lead of the race in the hands of Jia Tong. Behind him, D’Amico and Negra, who later on slipped down to P9 due to a contact with Tujula. Bonacini recovered to P3, while Demarchi came also to the fore fighting for P4 until the flag, but was later on given a 1 minute time penalty as he did not swap with his co-equiper Benvenuti, who was absent due to the birth of his son. The safety car neutralized the race for a couple of laps starting from the 18th lap, due to a spin of a GT3 car. At the restart, Cazzaniga, who took over from D’Amico, confirmed his lead from Ortiz to Vainio, while Kasai found his way past Demarchi, as the two started a nice fight for P4. At the chequered flag, positions did not change despite an inflamed duel within the top3, which was stopped by the red flag that closed the race early due to an incident occurred to Deodati, who ended fifth with co-equiper Trentin anyway, behind Bonacini-Lasagni.
GT Cup: A fair and square victory went to Di Leo-Poppy, who led the whole race, eventually proceeding Pisani and La Mazza-Nicolosi. Di Leo had the best of Pisani and La Mazza in the first stint, while “Poppy” did not have problems to bring his Porsche 997 to the flag as first in the second stint, leading Pisani and Nicolosi, as the latter spun at lap 16.
GT4: Porsche Cayman had the upper hand on rivals in the entry class, taking the victory with Sabino De Castro (Ebimotors) who led Nicola Neri (Kinetic Racing) and the Ginetta G55 of Luca Magnoni (Nova Race). At the start, De Castro took an early lead from Neri to Cristoni, but the latter was overtaken by Cerati (Porsche 997) at lap 3. The top two did not change after the driver change, but Magnoni took P3 leading Carboni and Ghezzi that closed the first race of the season in the order.
Classifications
Super GT3 PRO
Venturi-Gai 20
Frassineti-Beretta 15
Malucelli-Cheever 12
Super GT3
Comandini-Cerqui 20
Valente-Veglia 15
Pastorelli-Pezzucchi 12
GT3
Venerosi-Baccani 20
Del Castello-Colajanni 15
Super GT Cup
D'Amico-Cazzaniga 20
Jia Tong-Ortiz 15
Tujula-Vainio 12
GT Cup
Di Leo-"Poppy" 20
Pisani 15
La Mazza-Nicolosi 12
GT4
De Castro 20
Neri 15
Magnoni 12
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