Barde takes Ferrari double

With the track still damp from overnight rain, a cautious Barde led the field into the first chicane in race one. A leading trio of Barde, Ferrari Challenge returnee Robert Pergl and Luciano Linos soon broke away from the rest of the pack, with Pergl swarming all over Barde through the Lesmo curves.

When Barde ran wide at the end of the start-finish straight on lap four, Pergl pounced and snatched the lead, only to lose it back to the Frenchman when he out-braked himself into the first chicane two laps later. This time Barde stayed cool, his smooth driving style in marked contrast to third-placed Linos, who bounced over kerbs and threw the car sideways out of the slow corners. Linos may have looked ragged, but he was still able to pass Pergl and stave him off to finish second.

Irish teammates Michael Cullen and Paddy Shovlin enjoyed a ding-dong battle for fourth place, the more experienced Cullen ultimately losing out to his sister RossoCorsa car.

The second race, which ended under the setting sun, was an easy ride for Barde. Linos spun at the first corner and Pergl and Machiels tripped over each other on lap four, allowing Barde and Shovlin breathing space in first and second. When Machiels caught Shovlin seven laps down the road, he ran wide at the Parabolica and drifted off into the gravel. Shovlin could then cruise to a distant second place, 32 seconds behind Barde.

In class two, Morley repeated his race one victory with another dominant performance in the evening race - particularly striking since it was his first outing at Monza as well as his first European Challenge race. Freddy Kremer and Rolf Galiker followed him home in race one, whilst Galiker and Fritz Hartman were second and third in race two.

Ange Barde (F) 26:28.351
Luciano Linos (I) 26:39.271
Robert Pergl (CZE) 26:39.471
Paddy Shovlin (IRL) 26:41.451
Michael Cullen (IRL) 26:42.243
Louis Machiels (B) 27:10.788

Ange Barde (F) 28:49.076
Paddy Shovlin (IRL) 29:21.439
Louis Machiels (B) 29:25.605
Luciano Linos (I) 29:31.032
Michael Cullen (IRL) 30:04.592
Wido Roessler (D) 30:05.450