Monza Superstars: Liuzzi sets blistering practice pace
Tonio Liuzzi set a blistering time to lead a Mercedes 1-2-3 in free practice for the International Superstars Series opener at Monza
The ex-Formula 1 driver left it late to take the top spot in the second of two sessions, jumping ahead of Romeo Ferraris Mercedes team-mate Thomas Biagi on his last lap with a 1m54.360s - the time a full 1.5 seconds faster than last year's pole time from Max Pigoli.
Biagi was the only other driver to break into the 1m54s bracket, a 1m54.985s leaving him comfortably ahead of Luigi Ferrara, who was third in the Roma Racing Mercedes, albeit 1.4s behind the ultimate pace.
The 2013 Superstars grid guide
Francesco Sini gave the brand new Solaris Chevrolet Camaro a solid first official outing with the fourth best time, edging out reigning champion Johan Kristoffersson, who was fifth quickest in the Petri Corse Porsche.
A late lap from Giovanni Berton made him the best of the Dinamic BMWs in sixth, ahead of Ferlito Jaguar's Andrea Larini and Audi Sport Italia's Gianni Morbidelli.
In the morning's first session, Morbidelli made good use of mixed weather conditions to go fastest in four-wheel-drive Audi on a damp track. The veteran clocked a 2m04.332s late in the session to edge out Ferrara by just 0.023s.
Liuzzi and Biagi were third and fourth fastest in the wet, while Kristoffersson wound up ninth, a flurry of late laps costing him dearly after he had sat on top for the majority of the 30-minute session.
Practice one Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps 1. Gianni Morbidelli Audi Italia 2m04.332s 9 2. Luigi Ferrara Roma Mercedes 2m04.355s + 0.023s 11 3. Tonio Liuzzi Ferraris Mercedes 2m05.704s + 1.372s 7 4. Thomas Biagi Ferraris Mercedes 2m05.851s + 1.519s 10 5. Francesco Sini Solaris Chevrolet 2m06.328s + 1.996s 9 6. Giovanni Berton Dinamic BMW 2m07.683s + 3.351s 11 7. Andrea Larini Ferlito Jaguar 2m07.766s + 3.434s 9 8. Leonardo Baccarelli CAAL Mercedes 2m08.249s + 3.917s 12 9. Johan Kristoffersson Petri Porsche 2m09.496s + 5.164s 10 10. Alessandro Battaglin MRT Lexus 2m11.497s + 7.165s 7 11. Francesco Ascani Todi BMW 2m11.602s + 7.270s 13 12. Ferdinando Geri Audi Italia 2m11.964s + 7.632s 10 13. Mauro Trentin Dinamic BMW 2m13.329s + 8.997s 11 14. Andrea Bacci CAAL Mercedes 2m13.664s + 9.332s 6 15. Gianni Giudici Giudici BMW 2m20.709s + 16.377s 5 16. Max Fantini Petri Porsche no time 6 17. Max Mugelli Dinamic BMW no time 1 18. Roberto Benedetti RC Cadillac no time 1 Practice two Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps 1. Tonio Liuzzi Ferraris Mercedes 1m54.360s 11 2. Thomas Biagi Ferraris Mercedes 1m54.985s + 0.625s 14 3. Luigi Ferrara Roma Mercedes 1m55.798s + 1.438s 11 4. Francesco Sini Solaris Chevrolet 1m56.811s + 2.451s 12 5. Johan Kristoffersson Petri Porsche 1m57.162s + 2.802s 10 6. Giovanni Berton Dinamic BMW 1m57.244s + 2.884s 13 7. Andrea Larini Ferlito Jaguar 1m57.263s + 2.903s 11 8. Gianni Morbidelli Audi Italia 1m57.452s + 3.092s 11 9. Andrea Bacci CAAL Mercedes 1m57.641s + 3.281s 11 10. 'Diabolik' Ferlito Jaguar 1m58.642s + 4.282s 9 11. Gianni Giudici Giudici BMW 1m58.975s + 4.615s 11 12. Alessandro Battaglin MRT Lexus 1m59.110s + 4.750s 5 13. Roberto Benedetti RC Cadillac 1m59.188s + 4.828s 11 14. Mauro Trentin Dinamic BMW 1m59.210s + 4.850s 13 15. Max Fantini Petri Porsche 1m59.396s + 5.036s 11 16. Leonardo Baccarelli CAAL Mercedes 1m59.955s + 5.595s 12 17. Francesco Ascani Todi BMW 2m01.974s + 7.614s 13 18. Ferdinando Geri Audi Italia 2m02.449s + 8.089s 13 19. Max Mugelli Dinamic BMW no time 0
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| Series | General |
| Author | Andrew van Leeuwen |
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