Autosportfoto

Superstars: Biagi, Mercedes top sensational battle for Pole

Mercedes-AMG Romeo Ferraris scored their second straight SUPERSTARS INTERNATIONAL SERIES pole at Brno, Czech Republic. While it was Tonio Liuzzi to set the fastest lap on Saturday at Monza, this time it was Thomas Biagi to prevail at the end of an incredibly tight session. A tense battle developed in the closing minutes after the works Audi RS5 of Gianni Morbidelli had dominated early and only 0.5 seconds separated the top-5. Morbidelli rounded out the top-5 while the lead was also held by returning Fabrizio Giovanardi, on the Petri Corse Porsche Panamera S, and by surprising BMW racer Giovanni Berton on the Team Dinamic M3 racer. Eventually, Biagi ended up being the pacesetter in 2:08.848 and held off all his rivals' late attempts, edging Berton, Liuzzi and Giovanardi. Another Mercedes C63 AMG, the Coupé version of Luigi Ferrara, took 6th place in front of rookie Edoardo Piscopo, on the RGA-prepared BMW.

The first pole lap of the day in GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES was set by Alexander Talkanitsa Jr from Belarus, who logged a best mark of 2:02.005 in Q1 on the AF Corse Ferrari 458 GTS2. Andrj Studenic (Dino and Co Racing Team) ended up in second with another 458 model in GTS3 configuration. The second qualifying session was topped by Alexander Talkanitsa Senior in 2:02.131 with Roberto Del Castello ending up just 0.03s adrift.

Fine weather is expected on Race Day as Teams and Drivers are set to provide the crowds with some serious excitement. The fans at home will be relying on the series' sensational TV coverage on Sunday including 195 different territories and 205 broadcasters, while the races themselves will be televised live in 61 countries. The action will kick-off at 9.15 with the running of GTSPRINT Race 1, followed by SUPERSTARS Race 1 later in the same morning at 12.00. Race 2 for SUPERSTARS will go underway at 16.10 while GTSPRINT Race 2 will round out the day's schedule at 17.30.

SUPERSTARS INTERNATIONAL SERIES, Qualifying (top-5): 1. Biagi (Mercedes C63 AMG) 2'08"715; 2. Berton (Bmw M3 E92) 2'08"755; 3. Liuzzi (Mercedes C63 AMG) 2'08"813; 4. Giovanardi (Porsche Panamera S) 2'08"848; 5. Morbidelli (Audi RS5) 2'08"895.

GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES, Qualifying 1 (top-5): 1. Talkanitsa-Talkanitsa (Ferrari 458 GTS2) 2'02"005; 2. Tkac-Studenic (Ferrari 458 GTS3) 2'02"584; 3. Jakubik-Vorba (Ferrari 458 GTS3) 2'02"674; 4. Kristoffersson-Schöffler (Audi R8 LMS GTS3) 2'02"733; 5. Kruglyk-Giammaria (Ferrari 458 GTS3) 2'02"957.

GTSPRINT INTERNATIONAL SERIES, Qualifying 2 (top-5): 1. Talkanitsa-Talkanitsa (Ferrari 458 GTS2) 2'02"131; 2. Del Castello (Corvette Z06) 2'02"162; 3. Kruglyk-Giammaria (Ferrari 458 GTS3) 2'02"517; 4. Tanakorn-Sbirrazzuoli (Ferrari 458 GTS3) 2'03"273; 5. Pigoli-Dromedari (Maserati MC GTS3) 2'03"573.