Silverstone Ferrari Challenge: Marco Cioci battles to race two win
World Endurance Championship regular Marco Cioci took a hard-earned victory in the second Ferrari Challenge race at Silverstone, after a race-long battle with Max Blancardi
Motor/Piacenza guest driver Cioci led away from pole, but it did not take long for Blancardi to stake his claim for the lead with a dive up the inside at Stowe.
Cioci stayed glued to Blancardi's bumper, and reclaimed the initiative back at Woodcote. Still Cioci could not shake the persistent Blancardi, who once again fought back at Stowe. It took the experienced Cioci three laps to find a way back through, passing his compatriot for the final time with a brave move at Brooklands.
Despite staying within striking distance, Blancardi could not respond, and crossed the line 0.498 seconds behind his rival.
Ferrari Moscow's David Gai completed the podium. Gai wrestled the position from Patrick Gobbo at Stowe on lap seven.
Gobbo would not make it to the finish however, pulling off with a broken wishbone.
His retirement meant that Alexander Martin took the honours in the young driver class. Martin was having a good run and looked set for fourth spot, only to be given a five-second penalty. This dropped the Stratstone Ferrari down to fifth, behind Robert Pergl.
Lorenzo Case finished in sixth place. Behind him Ferrari Ukraina racer Andrii Kruglyk had a thrilling dice with race-one winner Dario Caso to claim seventh. Caso's CDP machine also retired with a broken wishbone with two laps remaining. Oliver Mayer was the last of the finishers.
Once again Coppa Shell honours went to Alexey Basov, who led the race from start to finish.
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