BIAGI (MERCEDES), MORBIDELLI (AUDI), BERTON (BMW) SET FOR SUPERSTARS SHOWDOWN - AUDI, PORSCHE, CORVETTE, FERRARI TO FIGHT FOR WINS IN GTSPRINT
The SUPERSTARSWORLD is again ready for an exciting showdown, as the SWR-promoted series is lining-up for the penultimate round of the 2013 season, set for this weekend at the "Enzo and Dino Ferrari" autodrome in Imola.
The SUPERSTARS pack is set to deliver another couple of exciting races at Imola after the impressing showing in Donington Park. Back in the UK, the honours were shared by the Mercedes of Luigi Ferrara and the Audi of Gianni Morbidelli, who is now on par with Thomas Biagi at the top of the championship. Once again, it will be the three historical brands of the series to challenge for the title, Audi, BMW and Mercedes. In addition to Biagi, the Stuttgart-based manufacturer will be relying on former F.1 star Vitantonio Liuzzi, who holds the point in the Italian Championship's standings. On the other hand, great news has come for Audi Sport Italia, as Morbidelli's Audi RS5 will be joined by two sister cars for former GTSPRINT race winner Davide Di Benedetto and open-wheel driver Giuseppe Cipriani. The Team BMW Dinamic field is set to be in full shape with its 3-car line-up consisting in title contender Giovanni Berton, a 2-time race winner this season, Max Mugelli, who is back from a great podium finish at Donington and Mauro Trentin, who also delivered some very solid runs throughout the season. They will be back aboard their nimble BMW M3 racecars. Driving his Chevrolet Camaro, back after an early crash at Donington, Francesco Sini is aiming to bring some muscle back to the podium. More Mercedes racers will be coming from Caal Racing, fielding Andrea Bacci and Leonardo Baccarelli, while Alessandro Battaglin will be in control of the Batt Promotion-prepared Chrysler. Once again, Gianni Giudici will be fighting for the Star Drivers honour against Francesco Ascani.
The battle for the GTSPRINT title is also far from over. The Audi R8 LMS fielded by Audi MTM for Thomas Schöffler is leading the overall standings, and the young German will rely on another quick team-mate, Swede Johan Kristoffersson. Glauco Solieri, campaigning the Autorlando Sport Porsche 997, is not to far back though as he aims to regain the lead in his home round. The RC Motorsport Corvette Z06 R will also be back in contention with Roberto Del Castello joined by Roberto Benedetti as well as the Ferrari 458 Italia of Ukrainian Andrii Kruglyk, joined on a second car by fellow countryman Ruslan Tsyplakov. Four more Ferrari racecars are also set to join the field. Two of them will come from the Ombra Racing Team stable, with Mario Cordoni and Massimo Mantovani sharing one car and Brazilian Fernando Croce on the second, while AF Corse will rely on Chinese racer Eric Cheung and Italian Sandro Montani. In addition to them, Team MP1 Corse will be making their series debut with Dario Cerati and Stefano Garelli. Last but not least, the Mercedes SLS lined-up by Sports&You for Antonio Coimbra and Luis Silva will be back in the game, joined by a Porsche 997 GTSCup for Sebastien Fortuna (Fortuna Racing).
