BALDAN (MERCEDES C63 AMG), SINI (CHEVROLET CAMARO) SHARE SECOND PLACE FINISHES IN FRONT OF SCHIATTARELLA (CHEVROLET LUMINA)

Young Italian racer Eddie Cheever III experienced a spectacular debut in the opening round of the 2014 EUROV8SERIES. The 20-year-old man, driving for R.R.T., left his mark on the Monza weekend and capped the job with the pole position and two fastest laps. The Italian-based team, led by Nico Caldarola, also impressed with Nicola Baldan, who took second place in Race 1 but eventually ended up into the gravel while trying to do it all again in Race 2. Mimmo Schiattarella, campaigning a Chevrolet Lumina for Solaris Motorsport, scored third place in both heats: after ending up behind Baldan in Race 1, he trailed his team-mate Francesco Sini in the afternoon.

Despite ending with similar outcomes, the races provided plenty of excitement. In Race 1, Cheever was dominant, leading from start to finish while Baldan topped Schiattarella, who had moved on BMW's Max Mugelli earlier in the day. Sini on his Chevrolet Camaro was the early leader in Race 2 also thanks to a fifth-place finish that gave him an advantage with the reversed top-8 start. The Pescara-born man resisted the attacks of Cheever for a couple of laps, but eventually settled for second fearing a mechanical issue. Then, in the closing stages, he charged his way back, but it was too late. He finished less than one second away from the winner. Schiattarella had an hard-fought day too as he had to deal with Baldan and with new Audi hire Tomas Kostka. The Czech took two very valuable points finishes on his Audi Sport Italia-prepared RS5. Mugelli also got two positive points spots for Team BMW Dinamic, ending up respectively in 6th and 5th.

The next round will be on May 3 and 4 at Vallelunga.

EUROV8SERIES | MONZA, April 6th 2014

Race 1 (top-5): 1. Cheever (Mercedes C63 AMG Coupé); 2. Baldan (Mercedes C63 AMG) 4.913; 3. Schiattarella (Chevrolet Lumina) 7.909; 4. Kostka (Audi RS5) 8.365; 5. Sini (Chevrolet Camaro) 18.468.

Race 2 (top-5): 1. Cheever (Mercedes C63 AMG Coupé); 2. Sini (Chevrolet Camaro) 0.926; 3. Schiattarella (Chevrolet Lumina) 5.488; 4. Kostka (Audi RS5) 10.070; 5. Mugelli (BMW M3) 15.306.

EUROV8SERIES (top-5): 1. Cheever 53 points; 2. Schiattarella 34; 3. Sini 33; 4. Kostka 30; 5. Mugelli 24.