Vallelunga Superstars: Johan Kristoffersson dominates race one for Audi
Johan Kristoffersson closed the gap to Tonio Liuzzi's International Superstars Series lead with a commanding race one win at Vallelunga
The Swede was unstoppable during the 25-minute affair, his only challenge a brief one from Liuzzi, who charged into the lead from fourth of the grid at the start.
But, thanks to his KMS Audi's four-wheel-drive grip, Kristoffersson reclaimed the lead in the twisty third sector on the first lap.
Once in front, Kristoffersson asserted his dominance. The next two laps were both more than two seconds faster than anyone else in the field.
From there, he was able to cruise to the finish, leading home the MTM Audi of fellow rookie Thomas Schoffler.
Thomas Biagi finished third in the Dinamic BMW, but not before a spirited battle over the position with Liuzzi's CAAL Racing Mercedes.
In the end, the balanced M3 proved superior over the more powerful C63, Biagi keeping himself in the title race with another podium while Liuzzi settled for fourth.
However, it was not until late in the race that Biagi and Liuzzi found themselves fighting over third place.
For the majority of the race, Audi Sport Italia driver Gianni Morbidelli sat third, before being forced to serve a drive-through with six minutes to go. The penalty was for a rather forceful move on Liuzzi on the fifth lap of the race.
Morbidelli re-emerged from pitlane in 11th place, but was back in the pits for good just two laps later after running wide in the first sector.
Behind the top four, Camilo Zurcher found himself in fifth place, a result set up by the Romeo Ferraris Mercedes driver's fantastic start.
Having leapt from the fifth row to the top five in the opening laps, he was able to hold off Dinamic BMW pair Max Mugelli and debutant Giovanni Berton until the finish.
Another debutant, former Formula 1 race winner Giancarlo Fisichella, had a fairly quiet outing in the Swiss Team Maserati.
Eighth place was his reward for a solid job, although he did finish the race with part of Liuzzi's rear bumper wedged in the Maserati's front grill, a side effect of the earlier contact between Liuzzi and Morbidelli.
Results - 16 laps: Pos Driver Team/Car Time/Gap 1. Johan Kristoffersson KMS Audi 27m35.276s 2. Thomas Schoffler MTM Audi + 0.514s 3. Thomas Biagi Dinamic BMW + 5.811s 4. Tonio Liuzzi CAAL Mercedes + 9.313s 5. Camilo Zurcher Romeo Mercedes + 12.498s 6. Max Mugelli Dinamic BMW + 13.169s 7. Giovanni Berton Dinamic BMW + 13.789s 8. Giancarlo Fisichella Swiss Maserati + 14.580s 9. Paolo Meloni W&D BMW + 18.733s 10. Mauro Cesari Swiss Maserati + 23.380s 11. Andrea Bacci CAAL Mercedes + 40.813s 12. Domenico Ferlito Ferlito Jaguar + 40.899s 13. Francesco Ascani Todi BMW + 41.611s 14. Andrea Larini Romeo Mercedes + 42.292s 15. Walter Meloni W&D BMW + 57.665s 16. Gianni Giudici Giudici BMW + 1m31.083s 17. Francesco Sini Polaris Chevrolet + 1 lap Retirements: Gianni Morbidelli Audi Italia 14 laps Nico Caldarola Roma Mercedes 7 laps Max Pigoli Ferlito Jaguar 6 laps Michele Faccin MRT Lexus 4 laps Leonardo Baccarelli Todi BMW 4 laps Alessandro Battaglin MRT Chrysler 0 laps
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