with Kristoffersson, Morbidelli, Schoffler. Liuzzi (Mercedes) takes 4th, Fisichella (Maserati) rounds out the top-10ANDREA PALMA (FERRARI) SCORES GTSPRINT POLE TO EDGE DEL CASTELLO-BENEDETTI (CORVETTE)
It was a great day Saturday for Audi at Vallelunga, as the German manufacturer's Audi RS5 racecars dominated qualifying for round 7 of SUPERSTARS. In the end, the pole went to young Swede Johan Kristoffersson (KMS), while Gianni Morbidelli (Audi Sport Italia) fell just short after having to deal with a suspension issue. German youngster Thomas Schoeffler rounded out the top-3 on the MTM-prepared model to edge Vitantonio Liuzzi.
The former F.1 driver, running under the works Mercedes-AMG banner, brought his Mercedes C63 AMG to row 2 and will try to go for the lead right at the start. A mechanical issue slowed down Giancarlo Fisichella, who scored 10th place at his debut in the series with the Swiss Team-prepared Maserati Quattroporte. BMW man Thomas Biagi, driving an M3 for Team BMW Dinamic, is set to attack from the third row on the grid and will line-up alongside Francesco Sini and the Chevrolet Lumina. Row 4 will also feature some Bavarian power with Team BMW Dinamic's Max Mugelli and Giovanni Berton, followed by Colombian Camilo Zurcher on the Romeo Ferraris Mercedes.
Qualifying (top-5):1.Johan Kristoffersson (Audi RS5KMS) 140.039; 2. Gianni Morbidelli (Audi RS5Audi Sport Italia) 140.363; 3. Thomas Schffler (Audi RS5MTM Motorsport) 140.645; 4. Tonio Liuzzi (Mercedes C63 AMGCaal Racing) 140.670; 5. Thomas Biagi (BMW M3 E92Team BMW Dinamic) 140.870.
In the GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES, Black Team racer Andrea Palma scored a great pole with his Ferrari 458 Italia. The Roman, who sealed the deal for the 2012 title at Spa-Francorchamps, is eager to celebrate in-style at his home venue. Rounding out the front row will be a Roman team, RC Motorsport - Roberto Del Castello and Roberto Benedetti proved highly-competitive on their Corvette Z06R. Row 2 will be shared by the newcoming Maserati GT-MC3 of the Gardel-Pier Guidi duo and the Porsche 997 of Angelo Proietti. The GTS Cup Trophy class is set to be exciting too. Lorenzo Cas and Matteo Malucelli drove the Scuderia Baldini 27 Network Ferrari 430 to pole, but current points leader Steven Goldstein is not to far at all: the Colombian is sharing a Lamborghini Gallardo prepared by RallySport with Raffaele Giammaria. The two races are scheduled for 9:00 AM and 14:05. The supporters of the FG GROUP-promoted championships will have the chance to cheer for their favourite drivers at home by tuning on RAI SPORT 2 in Italy, while a wide international TV coverage will also be available.
Qualifying (top-5): 1. Andrea Palma (Ferrari 458Black Team) 135.389; 2. Benedetti-Del Castello (Corvette Z06 R - RC Motorsport) 136.367; 3. GardelPier Guidi (Maserati GT MC3Swiss Team) 136.476; 4. Angelo Proietti (Porsche 997Antonelli Motorsport) 136.896; 5. Mario Cordoni (Ferrari 458Ombra Racing Team) 136.901
