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| 05/05/2008 - Jaguar third at Mugello (English) | After pole, Gabellini (BMW) wins Mugello race
Morbidelli (Audi) is second, Rigon (Jaguar) third
On the occasion of the feverish DTM week end at Mugello, Gabellini wins Superstars, so gaining the leadership both in Italian and International Series. The seasoned driver from Cattolica at the wheel of his BMW’s 550i, after his debut and first podium at Vallelunga, made his performance in the presence of a huge public (15.000 spectators during the week end) gaining victory after Saturday pole position. Second is Gianni Morbidelli, reigning champion and standard-bearer of Audi Sport Italia Team. Third at the finish line the other official Audi driven by Roman driver Giorgio Sanna, but a penalty given to him for a nose to tail bump to the prejudice of Papini, while safety car was on track, forced him to leave third place to the very fast novice Davide Rigon, fourth under the chequered flag with Ferlito Motors Jaguar S-Type, so securing International series second place too. Sanna will finish fifth.
It was indeed Davide Rigon to sprint faster than anybody else at the rolling start. Rigon started in front row thanks to his second best time in qualifying. Getting ahead of Gabellini, the twenty-one years old driver from Veneto tried to escape but the seasoned BMW 550i driver never released his hold, while Sanna, Battaglin (BMW M5) and Morbidelli were fighting for third place. Safety Car is called on track, following an accident for Baccarelli. At the new start the fight for leading positions starts again too. After a blazing tackle of drifts, Gabellini overtakes Rigon who is overtaken by Giorgio Sanna too.
The struggle for the highest podium step is now between Gabellini and Sanna, while Rigon and former Formula 1 driver Gianni Morbidelli vie for third.
At Bucine corner Sanna succeed in taking the lead, then is Gabellini to overtake but is passed again at San Donato corner by the Audi driver. Sanna is on the lead and will stay race leader for four laps.
Sanna, for damages suffered following the jostle with Papini, is forced to slow down. Gabellini exploits the situation and takes the lead again at San Donato braking point.
At the beginning of last lap Sanna is also overtaken by his team-mate Morbidelli who had previously surpassed Rigon. Morbidelli attempts to recovery, hoping to catch Gabellini, but the BMW driver manages to ration his lead and to climb the highest podium step as early as in the race following the one of his debut.
Fourth is thence Team Millenium Kristian Ghedina (third in the classification for International Series entries), followed in race placing by the penalized Sanna. Sixth place for Francesco Ascani who had to tackle final laps without the bonnet of his BMW 550i, engineered by Habitat Racing team. Seventh place for Maurizio Strada at the wheel of Lanza Motorsport BMW M5. Eighth Battaglin, penalized during the race for misconduct at the re-start. Ninth Papini and one point for Moreno Petrini, tenth. Takes the chequered flag Alessandro Cicognani, the seventeen years old Jaguar S-Type R driver at his outright debut with touring cars as powerful as Superstars V8.
Forced to retire Max Pigoli for technical problems in his Mercedes C63 AMG, which made its important debut right here at Mugello but is still afflicted with youth problems.
Next round, on May 17/18 at Monza circuit, on the occasion of FIA GT, is foreshadowed spectacular. Max Pigoli Mercedes C63 AMG (Speedstar Team) will be more competitive and the come-back of Zakspeed-Chrysler 300 SRT8 is expected. For the occasion the powerful 300C will double and alongside Sascha Bert there will be Marcel Leipert.
1° Stefano Gabellini CAAL Racing BMW 550 24'46"193
2° Gianni Morbidelli Audi Sport Italia Audi RS4 +0,598
3° Davide Rigon Ferlito Motors Jaguar S-type R +7,278
4° Kristian Ghedina Millenium Team BMW 550 +17,254
5° Giorgio Sanna Audi Sport Italia Audi RS4 +27,934
6° Francesco Ascani Habitat Racing BMW 550 +33,378
7° Maurizio Strada Lanza Motorsport BMW M5 +39,223
8° Alessandro Battaglin GASS Racing BMW M5 +50,338
9° Roberto Papini CAAL Racing BMW M5 +54,007
10° Moreno Petrini CAAL Racing BMW M5 +1'4,22
11° Alessandro Cicognani Ferlito Motors Jaguar S-type R +1'27,781
/ Massimo Pigoli Speedstar Team Mercedes C63 Ritirato
/ Steven Goldstein Audi Sport Italia Audi RS4 Ritirato
/ Leonardo Baccarelli CAAL Racing BMW M5 Ritirato
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