Bontempelli-Livio win great GTS battleKaffer-Barba and Dayraut reinforce respective leaderships
The Ferraris have dominated the first race in Monza, conquering entirely the podiumsin both categories. Victory has been for the 100% Italian outfit composed of RaffaeleGiammaria and Enrico Toccacelo, at the wheel of the EdilCris F430. This is the secondwin this season for the Roman duo, who is now second in the standings. Alvaro Barbaand Pierre Kaffer, today 2nd with the AF Corse machine, increase their championshiplead, as their main rivals, the Porsches of IMSA and Autorlando, could not do betterthan 4th and 6th respectively. Third place was for the Kessel machine of Peter-Broniszewski.
In GTS, Lorenzo Bontempelli and Stefano Livio (Kessel Racing) took their third successof the season, after winning a superb duel with the Luxury F430 of Dayraut-Ortelli,who extend their lead in the GTS standings. Freddy Kremer and Brian Lavio (Kessel),third, climb on the podium for the first time.
Giammaria, from the pole, takes a good start, but remains under permanent threat ofBarba, who passes in lap 3 at the Ascari chicane. Third is Rangoni, ahead of Peter,Dayraut, Livio, Mullen and Lietz, while Gruber goes off in the first lap and the SunRedretires in lap 3, because of mechanical problems. In lap 10, Lietz passes Mullen andGuerrero spins.
Things stabilize until the driver change and the handicaps, following which Toccaceloretrieves the lead for the EdilCris Ferrari, with a safe margin on Kaffer, Broniszewski,Garofano, Ortelli, Roda, Bontempelli, Christodoulou and Pilet.
The last laps see the Porsches of Pilet and Roda climb to 4th and 6th respectively, whilethere is a superb fight between Ortelli and Bontempelli for the win in GTS. The Italianeventually manages to pass the Monegasque in lap 28 and the two will finish the racewith some trouble (brakes for the Luxury car, consumption for the Kessel). Lastemotions are for Frezza, who retires with mechanical problems, and Wiser, who goesoff-track, while four cars (5, 34 ,65,53) are sanctioned with a drive-through for variousreasons.
Championship: 1. Kaffer-Barba, 188 p; 2. Giammaria-Toccacelo, 155; 3. Pilet-Narac,154; 4. Lietz-Roda, 151.
