Imola Superstars: Luigi Ferrara takes surprise pole
Luigi Ferrara will start the first of two Superstars International Series races at Imola from pole position, after toppling Tonio Liuzzi in qualifying
Having set the pace comfortably in both practice sessions, Liuzzi (Romeo Ferrari Mercedes) looked set to cruise to pole when he jumped to the top early with a 1m49.317s lap.
But with just minutes of the session remaining Ferrara made his move, the Roma Racing Mercedes driver jumping to the top with a 1m49.206s. With Liuzzi unable to respond, Ferrara found himself with a surprise pole.
Title contender Thomas Biagi was third fastest in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes and the only other driver in 1m49s bracket, while CAAL Racing Mercedes Andrea Bacci was another driver to pop up with a surprise result, going fourth fastest.
Max Mugelli continued his form of being the fastest driver not in a Mercedes, converting his promising practice pace into fifth on the grid, ahead of Francesco Sini (Solaris Chevrolet) and Giovanni Berton (Dinamic BMW).
Biagi's title rival Gianni Morbidelli's miserable weekend continued, the Audi Sport Italia driver managing just the eighth best time. He and Biagi go into Sunday's first race locked on points at the top of the table.
Davide di Benedetto was ninth in the second Audi Sport Italia RS5, with Mauro Trentin rounding out the top 10 for Dinamic BMW.
Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps 1. Luigi Ferrara Roma Mercedes 1m49.206s 9 2. Tonio Liuzzi Ferraris Mercedes 1m49.317s +0.111s 8 3. Thomas Biagi Ferraris Mercedes 1m49.879s +0.673s 8 4. Andrea Bacci CAAL Mercedes 1m50.112s +0.906s 13 5. Max Mugelli Dinamic BMW 1m50.152s +0.946s 7 6. Francesco Sini Solaris Chevrolet 1m50.240s +1.034s 9 7. Giovanni Berton Dinamic BMW 1m50.607s +1.401s 8 8. Gianni Morbidelli Audi Italia 1m51.568s +2.362s 7 9. Davide di Benedetto Audi Italia 1m51.723s +2.517s 12 10. Mauro Trentin Dinamic BMW 1m51.734s +2.528s 8 11. Leonardo Baccarelli CAAL Mercedes 1m53.697s +4.491s 9 12. Giuseppe Cipriani Audi Italia 1m53.875s +4.669s 11 13. Camilo Zurcher Todi BMW 1m54.718s +5.512s 10 14. Gianni Giudici Giudici BMW 1m54.935s +5.729s 6 15. Alessandro Battaglin MRT Chrysler 1m57.902s +8.696s 7
Imola Superstars: Tonio Liuzzi dominates practice sessions
Imola Superstars: Tonio Liuzzi resists Gianni Morbidelli in rain
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