Red Bull Ring win alongside Dindo Capello propels back Andrea Sonvico into Italian Gran Turismo leading spot
06/08/12
The lone abroad meeting for 2012 Italian GT -- at Austria's Red Bull Ring -- started on a high for the Audi camp as 2011 runner-up Andrea Sonvico clinched pole position for race 1 and finished even better as Como-based driver won a nail-biting race 2 overtaking Fabio Mancini's Ferrari at Remus corner on the very last lap.
Dindo Capello's young team mate was therefore able to snatch the top spot in the standings from Thomas Biagi and Stefano Colombo, whose spell as leading duo ran across four months - from round 2 to round 7. Sonvico -- and Christian Montanari, the stand-in driver for Capello when Dindo had works commitments-- had briefly led after their round 1 win.
On Saturday Sonvico spent his opening race stint close behind Giacomo Barri's Porsche then relinquishing the seat to Capello. As the #31 car was having to cope with the heftiest time penalty in the field --due to having clinched the first place at Misano race 2-- the 3-time Le Mans winner had to toil in his driving duties making do with a 5-place after having eaten away at Biagi's BMW edge throughout. Luckily Audi Sport Italia's #32 car did not have to climb such a time penalty and young duo Davide Di Benedetto-Alex Frassineti did not let the opportunity slip through their fingers putting in a consistent drive that -- although couldn't not match winners Balzan-Barri's pace -- was more than enough to build a comfortable 10-second edge on the Ferrari that rounded out the Top3.
Sunday's race was way more spectacular as front row drivers battled closely since the red light went off, with Balzan's Porsche snapping at Peter Kox' Lamborghini bumper. The experienced duo was soon joined by Capello, who overtook Gabriele Lancieri's Ferrari on lap 4. His #31 R8 LMS ultra put further pressure on the dicing duo at the top and Capello also claimed the race fastest lap before pitting in to hand over the seat to Sonvico. As the fast Lambo dropped out of contention when Nico Pronk took the wheel, Saturday's winner discovered the pleasures endowned to heavy time penalty. With the Ebimotors Porsche embroiled in a comeback through traffic, it was up to Lancieri-Mancini's Ferrari --that could easily overcome a meager 5-second time penalty-- to enjoy the leading spot. But Sonvico had unleashed already his R8 LMS ultra and on lap 28 he caught up with Mancini. The latter used his mileage in tin tops to keep at bay the Audi but on the very last lap he did not fend off Sonvico's move on the inside at Remus corner and therefore he and Capello could hoist the most coveted silverware for the second time in three races (Misano being the first).
Di Benedetto and Frassineti put in one of their usual consistent drive, picking up the fourth spot behind the Ebimotors 911 GT3R. The ensuing 8-point haul leaves the Audi duo 9-point adrift of team mate Sonvico. Previous GT3 leaders Biagi and Colombo were also overtaken by the Porsche duo. As more new arrivals loom for the upcoming September Italian GT rounds 2012 title chase actually hots up.
CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Round 7 - Red Bull Ring Spielberg, August 4:
1. A. Balzan - G. Barri (Porsche) 31 laps 50:06.850
2. D. DI BENEDETTO - A. FRASSINETI (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) + 7.179s
3. F. Mancini - G. Lancieri (Ferrari) + 18.072s
4. T. Biagi - S. Colombo (Porsche) + 23.635
5. D. CAPELLO - A. SONVICO (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) + 27.668s
CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Round 8 - Red Bull Ring Spielberg, August 5:
1. D. CAPELLO - A. SONVICO (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) 31 giri in 50:13.335
2. F. Mancini - G. Lancieri (Ferrari) + 0.621
3. A. Balzan - G. Barri (Porsche) + 1.509
4. D. DI BENEDETTO - A. FRASSINETI (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) + 12.526
5. P. Kox - N. Pronk (Lamborghini) + 28.737
CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Provisional drivers' points standings:
1. SONVICO 100 points;
3. DI BENEDETTO/FRASSINETI 91 pts.;
5. Balzan/Barri 89 pts.;
7. Biagi/Colombo 87 pts;
9. Cerruti/Liberati 65 pts.
On Saturday Sonvico spent his opening race stint close behind Giacomo Barri's Porsche then relinquishing the seat to Capello. As the #31 car was having to cope with the heftiest time penalty in the field --due to having clinched the first place at Misano race 2-- the 3-time Le Mans winner had to toil in his driving duties making do with a 5-place after having eaten away at Biagi's BMW edge throughout. Luckily Audi Sport Italia's #32 car did not have to climb such a time penalty and young duo Davide Di Benedetto-Alex Frassineti did not let the opportunity slip through their fingers putting in a consistent drive that -- although couldn't not match winners Balzan-Barri's pace -- was more than enough to build a comfortable 10-second edge on the Ferrari that rounded out the Top3.
Sunday's race was way more spectacular as front row drivers battled closely since the red light went off, with Balzan's Porsche snapping at Peter Kox' Lamborghini bumper. The experienced duo was soon joined by Capello, who overtook Gabriele Lancieri's Ferrari on lap 4. His #31 R8 LMS ultra put further pressure on the dicing duo at the top and Capello also claimed the race fastest lap before pitting in to hand over the seat to Sonvico. As the fast Lambo dropped out of contention when Nico Pronk took the wheel, Saturday's winner discovered the pleasures endowned to heavy time penalty. With the Ebimotors Porsche embroiled in a comeback through traffic, it was up to Lancieri-Mancini's Ferrari --that could easily overcome a meager 5-second time penalty-- to enjoy the leading spot. But Sonvico had unleashed already his R8 LMS ultra and on lap 28 he caught up with Mancini. The latter used his mileage in tin tops to keep at bay the Audi but on the very last lap he did not fend off Sonvico's move on the inside at Remus corner and therefore he and Capello could hoist the most coveted silverware for the second time in three races (Misano being the first).
Di Benedetto and Frassineti put in one of their usual consistent drive, picking up the fourth spot behind the Ebimotors 911 GT3R. The ensuing 8-point haul leaves the Audi duo 9-point adrift of team mate Sonvico. Previous GT3 leaders Biagi and Colombo were also overtaken by the Porsche duo. As more new arrivals loom for the upcoming September Italian GT rounds 2012 title chase actually hots up.
CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Round 7 - Red Bull Ring Spielberg, August 4:
1. A. Balzan - G. Barri (Porsche) 31 laps 50:06.850
2. D. DI BENEDETTO - A. FRASSINETI (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) + 7.179s
3. F. Mancini - G. Lancieri (Ferrari) + 18.072s
4. T. Biagi - S. Colombo (Porsche) + 23.635
5. D. CAPELLO - A. SONVICO (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) + 27.668s
CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Round 8 - Red Bull Ring Spielberg, August 5:
1. D. CAPELLO - A. SONVICO (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) 31 giri in 50:13.335
2. F. Mancini - G. Lancieri (Ferrari) + 0.621
3. A. Balzan - G. Barri (Porsche) + 1.509
4. D. DI BENEDETTO - A. FRASSINETI (AUDI R8 LMS ULTRA) + 12.526
5. P. Kox - N. Pronk (Lamborghini) + 28.737
CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Provisional drivers' points standings:
1. SONVICO 100 points;
3. DI BENEDETTO/FRASSINETI 91 pts.;
5. Balzan/Barri 89 pts.;
7. Biagi/Colombo 87 pts;
9. Cerruti/Liberati 65 pts.