The race fans in Sicily are renowned for being incredibly passionate and supportive, and that affection generated a rich history that started in 1906 with the first edition of the Targa Florio race. SUPERSTARS will line-up at Pergusa, near the city of Enna, to add another spectacular chapter to that glorious history, and many of the strongest racecar drivers of the region answered the bell for the last 2012 round of the GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES.
Vittorio Bagnasco will once again be one of the major characters in the GTS Cup Trophy. Coming from Palermo, he's been attempting a full season in the series with successful results. After scoring a win and six podium finishes, he will be battling for second place in the standings at his home racetrack.
Major news will come from the Audi camp. On the fast 4.9 Pergusa track which flows around Lake Pergusa, the Audi R8 GTS3 will make its championship debut with a strong driver line-up - running at their home racetrack are Michele Merendino and Davide Di Benedetto. Son of legendary racer "Apache" (winner of the last edition of the world-famous Targa Florio) Merendino won the Formula 2000 title in 1993 before moving to closed-wheel competition including a stint in the FIA GT championship and an outing in last year's GTSPRINT series at Vallelunga.
Di Benedetto, also an experienced racer, had his best year in the 2002 Formula Renault series, when he battled with Robert Kubica before finishing the season in third. He will now aim for some home glory at his championship debut.
"We strongly believe in the GTSPRINT concept - said Audi Sport Italia Team Manager Emilio Radaelli - and we proved that last year by fielding our Audi R8 which was fast straight out of the box. I would have loved to join the championship earlier but other commitments kept us from doing so. Finally we managed to accomplish the goal at Pergusa and I'm excited to field two really fast and consistent drivers from Sicily."
Making his debut in the series will be Francesco La Mazza, who will line-up aboard a Black Team-Prepared Ferrari 430 GTS2, the same car he drove to victory in the Italian GT Championship at Mugello in 2007. The Palermo-based duo of Giosu Rizzuto and Mario La Barbera, an expert combo in the single-make Ferrari series, will share a Porsche 997 GTS3 for Antonelli Sport.
Race 1 of the GTSPRINT Series will take-off at 9:50 AM, followed by Race 2 at 14:50 PM.
