Brno Superstars: Giovanardi sets the pace in practice

After an engine problem left him languishing down the order in free practice one, the Petri Corse Porsche driver showed his true potential in the second half-hour session, setting a best of 2m09.658s, the only time in the 2m09s bracket.

The Brno round is Giovanardi's first in Superstars since his six-race programme in an N.Technology-run Porsche back in 2010.

Giovanardi was not the only driver to show surprisingly good form. Dinamic BMW's Max Mugelli jumped up the sheets right at the end of free practice two, his 2m10.117s relegating FP1 pacesetter Gianni Morbidelli (Audi Sport Italia RS5) to third right on the chequered flag.

Thomas Biagi (Romeo Ferraris Mercedes) was solid in both sessions, going fourth fastest each time out, while his team-mate slipped from fifth in FP1 to ninth in FP2, despite going close to two seconds faster in the second session.

Francesco Sini was another driver to impress, his Solaris Chevrolet taking him to fifth in FP2, after he had gone second fastest in FP1.

Ex-Formula 1 driver Christian Klien had a solid morning for Scuderia Giudici BMW, going sixth fastest in FP1, and 10th fastest in FP2.

Meanwhile, Edoardo Piscopo enjoyed a solid debut for RGA Sportsmanship BMW, going sixth fastest in FP2 with a 2m10.834s after being just 14th in the first session.


Second practice

Pos Driver                    Car                 Time       Gap     Laps
 1. Fabrizio Giovanardi       Petri Porsche       2m09.658s             8
 2. Max Mugelli               Dinamic BMW         2m10.117s  + 0.459s  11
 3. Gianni Morbidelli         Audi Italia         2m10.380s  + 0.722s  10
 4. Thomas Biagi              Ferraris Mercedes   2m10.536s  + 0.878s  11
 5. Francesco Sini            Solaris Chevrolet   2m10.752s  + 1.094s  11
 6. Edoardo Piscopo           RGA BMW             2m10.834s  + 1.176s  12
 7. Luigi Ferrara             Roma Mercedes       2m11.202s  + 1.544s  10
 8. Giovanni Berton           Dinamic BMW         2m11.504s  + 1.846s  11
 9. Vitantonio Liuzzi         Ferraris Mercedes   2m11.565s  + 1.907s  12
10. Christian Klien           Giudici BMW         2m11.608s  + 1.950s  10
11. Andrea Bacci              CAAL Mercedes       2m12.130s  + 2.472s  10
12. 'Diabolik'                Ferlito Jaguar      2m13.519s  + 3.861s   9
13. Mauro Trentin             Dinamic BMW         2m13.536s  + 3.878s  12
14. Roberto Benedetti         RC Cadillac         2m15.811s  + 6.153s  10
15. Gianni Giudici            Giudici BMW         2m15.880s  + 6.222s   8
16. Alessandro Battaglin      MRT Lexus           2m16.691s  + 7.033s   8
17. Max Fantini               Petri Porsche       no time               5
18. Ferdinando Geri           Audi Italia         no time               3
19. Andrea Larini             Ferlito Jaguar      no time               3

First practice

Pos Driver                    Car                  Time     Gap       Laps
 1. Gianni Morbidelli         Audi Italia          2m10.200s            10
 2. Francesco Sini            Solaris Chevrolet    2m11.209s  + 1.009s  12
 3. Vitantonio Liuzzi         Ferraris Mercedes    2m12.608s  + 2.408s  10
 4. Andrea Larini             Ferlito Jaguar       2m13.052s  + 2.852s  12
 5. Thomas Biagi              Ferraris Mercedes    2m13.147s  + 2.947s  10
 6. Christian Klien           Giudici BMW          2m13.299s  + 3.099s  10
 7. Giovanni Berton           Dinamic BMW          2m13.515s  + 3.315s   3
 8. 'Diabolik'                Ferlito Jaguar       2m14.038s  + 3.838s  10
 9. Andrea Bacci              CAAL Mercedes        2m14.549s  + 4.349s  11
10. Roberto Benedetti         RC Cadillac          2m15.295s  + 5.095s   9
11. Max Mugelli               Dinamic BMW          2m16.010s  + 5.810s   9
12. Fabrizio Giovanardi       Petri Porsche        2m16.456s  + 6.256s   7
13. Max Fantini               Petri Porsche        2m16.485s  + 6.285s  11
14. Edoardo Piscopo           RGA BMW              2m16.949s  + 6.749s   9
15. Alessandro Battaglin      MRT Lexus            2m18.236s  + 8.036s  11
16. Gianni Giudici            Giudici BMW          2m19.673s  + 9.473s   8
17. Mauro Trentin             Dinamic BMW          2m21.607s  + 11.407s  3
18. Ferdinando Geri           Audi Italia          2m21.894s  + 11.694s 11
19. Luigi Ferrara             Roma Mercedes        2m22.508s  + 12.308s  5