Bortolotti edges closer to title after setting pace in first practice
Mirko Bortolotti made the perfect start to what could be a title-clinching weekend in Monza by going fastest in first practice
The Italian currently leads the championship by 60 points, but with just two rounds remaining he can afford to lose some of that advantage and still secure the 2011 title on home soil this weekend.
That prospect edged a little nearer to becoming reality as Bortolotti topped the timesheets in the opening session, his best effort of 1m40.814s leaving him almost a quarter of a second clear of the field.
Romania's Mihai Marinescu proved his nearest challenger in second, while Christopher Zanella, his chief rival for the title, finished third fastest.
Spain's Miki Monras finished more than half a second down in fourth, with Alex Brundle edging out Thiemo Storz by less than 0.06s to seal fifth.
Ramon Pineiro, third in the championship and winner of the past three races, was the last driver to get within 1s of Bortolotti as he finished seventh.
Kelvin Snoeks, Jack Clarke and Benjamin Lariche rounded out the top ten.
Pos Driver Time Gap 1. Mirko Bortolotti 1m40.814s 2. Mihai Marinescu 1m41.045s + 0.231s 3. Christopher Zanella 1m41.212s + 0.398s 4. Miki Monras 1m41.387s + 0.573s 5. Alex Brundle 1m41.550s + 0.736s 6. Thiemo Storz 1m41.606s + 0.792s 7. Ramon Pineiro 1m41.800s + 0.986s 8. Kelvin Snoeks 1m42.059s + 1.245s 9. Jack Clarke 1m42.219s + 1.405s 10. Benjamin Lariche 1m42.283s + 1.469s 11. Tobias Hegewald 1m42.362s + 1.548s 12. Luciano Bacheta 1m42.379s + 1.565s 13. Julian Theobald 1m42.575s + 1.761s 14. Sunghak Mun 1m42.899s + 2.085s 15. Maxim Snegirev 1m42.924s + 2.110s 16. Mikkel Mac 1m42.930s + 2.116s 17. Parthiva Sureshwaren 1m43.115s + 2.301s 18. Plamen Kralev 1m43.123s + 2.309s 19. James Cole 1m43.631s + 2.817s
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