Italian GT: Runner-up spot grabbed in nail-biting Imola race keeps Marco Mapelli, Thomas Schöffler atop the points standings

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

GT title to go to the wire at Monza:  runner-up spot grabbed in nail-biting Imola race keeps Marco Mapelli, Thomas Schöffler atop the points standings

•  Series lead now shared with Imola race two winners Giammaria-Case
•  Rough driving spoils Emanuele Zonzini, Dindo Capello day at turn one

Imola, Italy – As going got tough in the Italian GT the No. 6 Audi duo proved to be a nearly perfect match: yesterday, at the circuit named after Enzo and Dino Ferrari, it was up to Singen, Germany's Thomas Schoeffler to put his mark on the third place finish in a race claimed by Alessandro Balzan, Nicola Benucci's Ferrari. Today it was Marco Mapelli's turn to put in an inspired drive to snatch the second place -- behind Raffaele Gianmaria and Lorenzo Case's Ferrari --. The Monza-based driver had to dodge a spate of punches during a bout with Francisco Mora's AMG Mercedes. The Portoguese's third place was then deleted by the stewards, but Mapelli, with the title on the line and the archrival Ferrari leading, simply couldn't afford not to take risks. And he proved his mettle moving by the AMG Mercedes at Tamburello corner with two laps to go. The runnerup spot in round 12 means that Mapelli, Schoeffler keep the lead in the standings they had re-claimed on Saturday, albeit level on points with Sunday winners. The four drivers will go to the wire in a fortnight at ultra-quick Monza and they will be level also as far as time handicap is concerned for round 13 mandatory pit-stop, whilst Saturday winner Nicola Benucci keeps himself a dim chance to leapfrog the foursome.

Imola wasn't as friendly with their team mate Emanuele Zonzini: the San Marino young gun was pushed into the runoff area at turn one on the opening lap and could not resume the race until he had a 3-lap gap. A recovery impossible to match even for his mentor Dindo Capello, who had to make do with a ninth place that was way too little, especially for a pissed off Zonzini.

Race two:
1. Giammaria-Case' (Ferrari)
28 laps, 49:55.011
2. MAPELLI-SCHÖFFLER (AUDI)
3. Pier Guidi-Lucchini (Ferrari)
4. Pezzucchi-Bianco (Porsche)
5. Frassineti-Lancieri (Ferrari)

Standings:
AFTER 12 ROUNDS:
1. MAPELLI-SCHÖFFLER 111 points
1. Giammaria- Case' 111 pts.
5. Benucci 98 pts.
6. Lucchini 84 pts.
7. Balzan 83 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

Italian GT: Marco Mapelli and Thomas Schöffler claim hard-fought podium finish at Imola

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

Marco Mapelli, Thomas Schöffler claim hard-fought podium finish at Imola and overtake Ferrari's crews for the lead of the GT3 championship in the process

• #6 Audi rounds out Top3 in unpredictable, fickle round eleven 
• Dindo Capello, Emanuele Zonzini grapple with alternator trouble

Imola, Italy – 458 Italia GT3s may have seized the leading spot in the Italian GT round eleven staged today at Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari but... it turned out that ultimatley it's again an Audi R8 LMS ultra that came atop the tables. Pole sitting Alessandro Balzan and Nicola Benucci, then Luigi Lucchini and Alessandro Pier Guidi and eventual winners Gigi Ferrara, Marco Magli all enjoyed the first place. The Scuderia Italia car even looked set to snatch its second series win in a round that did not miss twists, until Lucchini was beached on lap 23 at Acque Minerali runoff area. By then Magli and Benucci were apparently set to duke it out for the runner-up spot with Audi's Thomas Schoeffler. The Singen, Germany driver had received the number 6 Audi from team mate Marco Mapelli in sixth place. The Lombardy-based driver had started from the front row, holding off championship leader and archrival Raffaele Gianmaria and Ferrara for ten laps, fighting tooth and nail to fend their charge off until he went wide at Tamburello. He then managed to keep the gap from the Ferraris as tight as possible. Schoeffler was as poised and focused, finishing third as Benucci's wingman a race that highlighted how you can't win crowns if you don't score on a regular basis: several of the Italian Gran Turismo mainstays failed to do so today, including Barri and Bortolotti, Lucchini and Pier Guidi and former series leaders Gianmaria and Casè. Imola's Top3 finish yields Mapelli and Schoeffler the first place that they had relinquished at Vallelunga, two points ahead of Bonucci and five ahead of Gianmaria and Casé--the former leaders wound up in P10.

Their team mates Capello and Zonzini were stuck throughout their race with low voltage problems, which luckily didn't forced him to join the DNF list. Capello even had a near miss when Giacomo Barri's Lambo flew off track at Tamburello early in the race, just inches away from the 3-time Le Mans winner. Zonzini then made up ground, but trimming the gap from the leading Ferrari wasn't enough to yield his -- and his team mate, too-- effort a better result than P7. However, they look forward to Sunday, as this time out --unlike Mapelli and Schoeffler -- they will not have to grapple with a 10-second time handicap at the pit-stop.

Race one:
1. Ferrara-Magli (Ferrari) 27 laps, 51:24.865s
2. Balzan-Benucci (Ferrari)
3. MAPELLI-SCHÖFFLER (AUDI)
4. Mora (AMG Mercedes)
5. Beretta-Carboni (Porsche)

Standings:
1. MAPELLI-SCHÖFFLER 96 points
3. Benucci 94 pts.
4. Giammaria-Case' 91 pts.
6. Beretta-Carboni 79 pts.
8. Balzan 77 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: At Hockenheimring Tomas Kostka's grip on EuroV8 ends two laps too early

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Audi Sport Italia clinches the top spot in the series' team standings
• Emanuele Zonzini's race ends in opening lap as halfshaft lets go
• Ermanno Dionisio is one of drivers involved in first lap melee

Hockenheim, Germany –  On Saturday he had surprisingly claimed the pole position for the last EuroV8 starting grid, therefore series leader Tomas Kostka today could face the final leg counting on a three-point cushion on Nicola Baldan's AMG Mercedes and fourteen on Francesco Sini's Chevrolet Camaro. How it is, it was the rival that faced the steepest climb to the top to prevail at Hockenheim. Kostka's Audi ultimately ran most of the race crippled by bruises triggered by minor, and not so minor, contact with Chevrolet drivers, Sini and his wingman Giovani Berton.

The first lap was chaotic: Kostka's team mate Giovanni Zonzini stopped immediately hit by a halfshaft problem, as Sini took the lead, also showing his mettle to the Audi leader swiping the RS 5 in the process. A few corners later a bunch of cars were wiped including Audi's Ermanno Dionisio, who had had a good getaway, BMW's Maurizio Mercatali and others namely former championship leader Baldan, whose Mercees AMG was damaged and forced to stop on the grass, the driver out of contention for the title. As the safety car was summoned Kostka was squeezed between the Chevrolets of Sini and Berton. At the re-start the Camaro went on to an undisputed win. If Sini in P1 wasn't actually a setback for Kostka, Berton grabbing the second place was: when the Lumina tussled with the No 1 Audi at the hairpin the banging damaged Kostka's rear left halfshaft and the Czech driver had to slow his pace. Third place would have been enough to secure him the crown, but the crippled car was forced to leave room for Diego Romanini'recovery. With two laps to go Kostka after working miracles to stay ahead ran wide at turn Sachs and had to let the AMG Mercedes go by to round up the Top3 spots. Ultimately, even with a burst tyre Kostka crossed the finish line in P4, but he had to relinquish the drivers' crown to Sini by a point. Audi Sport Italia confirmed itself as best team in the dedicated standing, whilst Dionisio had claimed the gentlemen standings a fortnight ago at Sachsenring.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: Tomas Kostka's fourth EuroV8 Series pole position is huge boost of confidence ahead of Hockenheim finale

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Emanuele Zonzini to start from row two in his third tin-top start 
• Early fuel pump problems doom Ermanno Dionisio qualifying

Hockenheim – According to conventional wisdom the Baden Wurttemberg track was supposed to be a boon for Camaros and AMG Mercedes and for their beefy engines: it turned out that only in free practice one a car that boasts power among its primary assets, Francesco Sini's Chevy could top the time sheets. Then the game belogned Audi Sport Italia's RS 5s and no one benefitted more of this twist of fate than the best-placed Audi driver in the tables: Tomas Kostka. The Zlin, Czech Republic-based driver was first in free practice two posting the fastest time in practice as well as the lone lap one under the 1-minute 48-second barrier: 1'47.924.

In qualifying he repeated himself: his 1:47.632 remained unbeaten, but Kostka himself trimmed it when the session resumed after the second red flag, posting a shining 1:47.134, four-tenths of a second ahead of the closest pursuer. Nicola Baldan, runner-up in the tables, three points removed from the Czech, tomorrow will start from row three: his Saturday was blighted by technical trouble. Sini, third in the points standing 14 points behind the leader, will start next to the pole sitting RS 5, and could not get ahead of the best Audi in spite of clocking the fastest times in sector two on a regular basis. But sheer power was not enough to displace Audis as the RS 5 quattros were having an edge at the hairpin and in the twisty sections. A confirmation came from Emanuele Zonzini, that put the morning troubles, and a replaced engine, behind himself breaking out at the eleventh hour to cliam a nice third place (1:47.756): The young San Marino-based driver hadn't put a wheel before at Hockenheimring, as during his 2013 GP3 season the singleseater series had paid visit to the Nurburgring, but he quickly made up for the lack of experience building on the knowledge of team mates and the Audi Sport Italia staff. His team mate Ermanno Dionisio --the star at the previous Sachsenring round, courtesy of his astounding come back race-- was not as fortunate as Zonzini, as a pick-up problem stopped him in the grass before he could put in a single lap, even triggering a brief red flag-- the second as outcome of Max Mugelli's crash. The Brixia-born driver will have to start the EuroV8 Series decider from the bottom of the grid.

Qualifying:
1. KOSTKA (AUDI) 1:47.134
2. Sini (Chevrolet) 1:47.524
3. ZONZINI (AUDI) 1:47.756
4. Berton (Chevrolet) 1:48.498
5. Mugelli (BMW) 1:48.664
6. Baldan (Mercedes AMG) 1'48.880
S.T. DIONISIO (AUDI)

Standings:
1. KOSTKA 149 punti
2. Baldan 146 p.
3. Sini 135 p.
4. Mercatali 108 p.
5. Copetti 92 p.
6. Mugelli 91 p.
7. DIONISIO 87 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: After Sachsenring banner weekend Audi Sport Italia drivers head to Hockenheimring for title decider

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

•    Leader Tomas Kostka to fight tooth and nail for ultimate prize in German finale
•    Emanuele Zonzini, Ermanno Dionisio look forward to sign off 2014 with class act

Nibbiola, Italy –  Audi Sport Italia's drivers sweeped the podium spots in the EuroV8 Series next-to-last meeting at Sachsenring and Tomas Kostka grabbed the series lead when he piloted his RS 5 to the third 2014 victory. There are three drivers who are on their way to Germany expecting to battle for the maiden FG Group-promoted series crown: besides Kostka, Nicola Baldan and Francesco Sini. They all previously savoured the taste of being on top: Sini, who trails Kostka by 13 points was the first of the bunch to claim the leading spot, which he had to relinquish to Baldan in Mugello, possibly the best meeting for the AMG Mercedes driver. Tuscany also treated Kostka to a foretaste of the leadership, as he led after race one -- albeit level on points with the Chevrolet Camaro driver-- before both were leapfrogged by Baldan. Kostka's mixed fortunes at his home event meant that the Zlin, Czech Republic-based driver had to wait nearly three months --until the Audi-red letter day on a soaked track at Sachsenring-- to climb back to the top of the tables, after Audi Sport Italia second season 1-2-3.

Hockenheimring is not supposed to be as Audi-friendly as Sachsenring was, however the pressure will be on Kostka's rivals to displace him from the top. Kostka as well as team mates Emanuele Zonzini and Ermanno Dionisio shouldn’t be the nervous ones who enter this race looking at a chance to test their ability and their mettle, because they have shown loads of both. The experienced Dionisio after sailing uncharted waters at the two previous venues is to drive at a track he already visited, and he'll do so after clinching the EuroV8 gentlemen standings with one round to go. Zonzini proved in his last outing that youth isn't a liability in a touring car series where experienced driver reign, claiming a deserved runner-up spot behind Kostka in his second series start. Which ultimately adds up to suggest to fans and insiders alike to keep an eye on RS 5 drivers on Sunday.

Standings:
1. KOSTKA 148 points
2. Baldan 146 pts.
3. Sini 135 pts.
4. Mercatali 108 pts.
5. Copetti 92 pts.
6. Mugelli 91 pts.
7. DIONISIO 87 pts.

Timetable:
Saturday, October 4
09:00-09:30 practice
13:55-14:25 practice
17:20-17:50 qualifying
Sunday, October 5
09:30-09:45 warm up
14:05 25-minute race (+1 lap)

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: Audi Sport Italia's Sachsenring 1-2-3 propels race winner Tomas Kostka back to the top of points tables

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Emanuele Zonzini first tin-top finish is also his maiden Top3 place 
• Ermanno Dionisio enlivens German round rallying from P7 to P3  

Oberlungwitz (D) – Mixed weather had greeted this corner of Saxony on Saturday, but as race time was approaching rainy clouds had the upper hand over Sachsenring, with a drenched circuit waiting for the start of the next-to-last 2014 EuroV8 Series round. Since Tomas Kostka had led all practice sessions as well as qualifying and warm-up -- mostly on dry-- he and team mates Emanuele Zonzini and Ermanno Dionisio were quite happy, albeit everybody was afraid deep down that Sunday wouldn’t be as smooth sailing as yesterday had been. They had not forgotten that the opening laps in Brno had been an utter disaster for the threesome, who all experienced first-hand what is like to be wiped out of contention after a few corners.

As it is, Sachsenring today again proved a venue friendly for Ingolstadt-hailing cars, and especially for the Italian squad quattros. The Zlin, Czech Republic-based driver and team mates didn't even had to bother about the opening lap this time out, as the race started behind safety-car and when on lap two the green flag was waved Kostka and Zonzini, who had been sharing the front row, disappeared in a cloud of spray, without any competition challenging them. Kostka's third season win, paired with former leader Nicola Baldan P7, translates in the Audi man claiming back the series leadership by two points, a tiny edge he'll try to keep in the season finale, to be staged at Hockenheim in a fortnight. 20-year old Zonzini, who's driving for Audi Sport Italia on a regular basis in the domestic GT3 series, claimed his maiden touring car podium finish in only his second start, in spite of having had to make acquaintance with the track this race weekend, unlike the race winner. Luckily the downshift trouble that had intermittently hampered the San Marino-based driver warm up session had been tweaked before the start by the team crew.

If Kostka and Zonzini smoothly cruised to the checker, their team mate Ermanno Dionisio was the man that made the penultimate season round entertaining for the 10,000-plus crowd. Starting from row four the experienced rally-man bode his time until lap 7, trying to come to grips with scarce visibility. Then he switched to maximum attack mode and challenged BMW's Massimiliano Mugelli for P6, triggering a roll of dice that brought the warring duo surprisingly past AMG Mercedes' Baldan, that was struggling ahead of Mugelli. The end of the following lap was the right moment for the Monaco-based driver to take over P4 from Giovanni Berton's Chevy Lumina. It then took him until lap 12 to catch and slide past Francesco Sini's Chevy Camaro, after a brief tussle. By then the gap from the leading team mates was too big, but Dionisio wasn't less happy to join again fellow Audi drivers on the podium, something that both him and Audi Sport Italia had accomplished at Vallelunga, in a nail-biting race one. However, Dionisio has now moved up to the seventh place in the overall standings, as well as leading the gentlemen-only tables.

Race
1. KOSTKA (AUDI RS 5) 16 laps
2. ZONZINI (AUDI RS 5) +3.518s
3. DIONISIO (AUDI RS 5) +30.366s
4. Sini (Chevrolet) +35.044s
5. Berton (Chevrolet) +37.543s
6. Mugelli (BMW) +37.962s
7. Baldan(AMGMercedes)+1:04.905s

Standings
1. KOSTKA 148 points
2. Baldan 146 pts.
3. Sini 135 pts.
4. Mercatali 108 pts.
5. Copetti 92 pts.
6. Mugelli 91 pts.
7. DIONISIO 87 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: Promising start to Audi Sport Italia's EuroV8 Series weekend at Sachsenring: RS 5 drivers sweep front row spots

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Tomas Kostka, Emanuele Zonzini lead next-to-last season grid 
• Ermanno Dionisio to take on German round starting from row four

Oberlungwitz (D) –  The penultimate leg of the 2014 V8 series promoted by Maurizio Flammini's FG Group witnessed a first day dominated by the best-placed Audi driver in the points standings: Tomas Kostka. The Czech actually happened to be the lone man in the EuroV8 Series paddock that had already raced at the track renowned for its MotoGP meeting and made the most of it topping the time sheets in both practices no matter if dry or rain-soaked. When qualifying beckoned the session got underway in half-wet/half-dry conditions, with some areas still sodden but the lines relatively dry and fastly improving.

The pole position chase saw no less than five drivers swapping the most coveted spot: in addition to the Czech that ultimately repeated himself on top also his teammate Emanuele Zonzini, the provisionale series leader Nicola Baldan and the Chevrolet duo composed by Francesco Sini and Giovanni Berton. Whilst Kostka prevailed with rain tires fitted to his RS 5 his lap (1'36.893) was soon shredded by rivals as soon as they switched to slick tires: Baldan was the first to change of tactics and looking at the AMG Mercedes lap of 1'34.371 the whole pit lane followed him. Obviously Audi Sport Italia were not there to watchand the first to roll the dice was the young man from San Marino: Zonzini pushed hard and for the first time since he joined EuroV8 he led the whole field: he even pipped Kostka by 41 thousandths of a second. Thereafter no car but Audis led the standings: the Czech claimed back the pole with a lap (1'30.101) that improved the best morning time by two tenths of a second. In order to avoid being pipped, Kostka improved it twice as the track was drying: 1'28.908 was the final word and also the lap that granted the point awarded to the polesitting car. Tomorrow the Czech will have nineteen points to recover from leader Baldan, who will start in the row three, behind the Chevys. The battle for pole between the Audis of Kostka and Zonzini apparently benefitted both: their duel in qualifying mirrored the previous at Brno, which wound up with a first and a third place on the grid, but this time out the young San Marino driver moved up one spot to runner-up, albeit by only 0.626s. Unfortunately, Audi Sport Italia's Ermanno Dionisio will not be behind them as it happened instead in the soaked free practice session. The Monaco-based driver did not pulled punches to make it happen, but as time was expiring he could not make it -- he went wide in the grass in the downhill section of the Saxony venue and tomorrow he'll have to settle for seventh place on the grid.

Qualifying
1. KOSTKA (AUDI RS 5) 1'28.908s
2. ZONZINI (AUDI RS 5) 1'29.534s
3. Sini (Chevrolet) 1'30.691s
4. Berton (Chevrolet) 1'30.592s
5. Baldan(AMG Mercedes) 1'30.793s
6. Mugelli (BMW) 1'31.356s
7. DIONISIO (AUDI RS 5) 1'31.875s

Standings
1. Baldan 133 points
2. Sini 116 pts.
3. KOSTKA 114 pts.
4. Mercatali 108 pts.
5. Copetti 92 pts.
6. Mugelli 91 pts.
7. STANCHERIS 71 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: Audi Sport Italia keen to bring back their quattros to one of the most four wheel drive-friendly venues

Audi Sport Italia Press Release
 

•    Tomas Kostka's knowledge of the German circut may help his uphill title run
•    Emanuele Zonzini, Ermanno Dionisio look forward to Sachsenring challenge

Nibbiola, Italy –  Emilio Radaelli’s team made its last Sachsenring appearance several years ago: on June 30, 1996, the team ran and operated a works Audi A4 Quattro in the fourth leg of D1 ADAC STW-Cup, albeit the car was entered by French team AZK-ROC. Austria’s Phillip Peter – whose then-race engineer Massimo del Prete still builds four-ring cars in Novara, Italy today – drove superbly in the Sprint race to clinch his maiden tin-top win, which remarkably was also the lone success for the Italian team headed by the former rallying co-driver in German SuperTouring.

This weekend Audi Sport Italia is again set to field quattros at Sachsenring, although today the V8s are run as a private operation. Nonetheless the circuit layout as well as the assets of a car that has sweeped the available titles in the past two seasons make the Audi camp fairly optimistic about the German leg, aiming high: Tomas Kostka, Emanuele Zonzini and Ermanno Dionisio all wish to be up to the task.

The Zlin, Czech Republic-based driver is among the very few V8 men that have been driving at this venue before, and this may well prove a precious advantage, even over his team mates. Veteran Ermanno Dionisio has put in his best races mostly at twisty tracks, and Sachsenring may well suit him, as well. However, young gun Emanuele Zonzini clicked with the RS 5 from the word go and he especially may be a precious help for the Czech teammate, as Audi have to shoot for a 1-2, possibly the only way for Kostka to reboot his title hopes and move the title fight to the Hockenheimring decider.

Currently the #1 RS 5 sits in P3 in the standings, 20-point removed from provisional leader Nicola Baldan’s Mercedes coupe. If things go according to plan, on Sunday Kostka may leapfrog runner-up Francesco Sini. The Chevrolet standard-bearer has a tiny 3-point edge over Kostka, and Sachsenring hardly seems to suit the U.S.-born V8 Camaro as much as the coupe hailing from Ingolstadt. Audi Sport Italia’s drivers will have to cope with the same Balance of Performance package that awaited them in Rome: 1,500-kgs minimum weight, a ride height set at 90mm and air restrictors that shrink to 79 from the 85mm allowed at Brno in the previous leg. 

Timetable
Saturday, September 20
08:00-08:30 practice
14:20-14:50 practice
18:20-18:50 qualifying
Sunday, September 21
09:25-09:40 warm up
14:05 25-minute race (+1 lap)

Standings
1. Baldan 133 points
2. Sini 116 pts.
3. KOSTKA 113 pts.
4. Mercatali 108 pts.
5. Copetti 92 pts.
6. Mugelli 91 pts.
7. STANCHERIS 71 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia
 

Italian GT: Second 2014 victory propels Marco Mapelli, Thomas Schoeffler atop points standings of Italian Gran Turismo

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Strong comeback race helps GT3 Audis to snap Mugello losing streak
• Capello, Zonzini close in on Top3 spot until late-race one mishap

Scarperia e S. Piero (FI) – Coming off the team's worst result of the 2014 season, Audi Sport Italia visited Mugello with bolstered confidence and did not miss the mark on Saturday for Italian Gran Turismo round five.

Starting from row two Marco Mapelli and Thomas Schoeffler bid their time until the second half of the race, then went on to successfully attack the Ferrari dominance at their home track. Team mates Dindo Capello and Emanuele Zonzini also looked set to reap a good haul of points, but with five minutes to go--as the San Marino-based young gun was lying in P4--he went off at Correntaio corner, thereafter blaming a braking problem for the mishap.

At the start of the race Schoeffler and Capello kept in check the Autorlando Porsche whose drivers were runner up in the points standings after Monza: Carboni-Beretta, fighting with them for fifth position. The Stuttgart-built car, however, went by the German driver on lap nine; Schoeffler then also gave way to team mate Capello.

The Singen-based driver was the first of the Audi guys to pit for the mandatory driver change, one lap ahead of Capello, and as it turned out the move helped Mapelli to resume the track just ahead of Zonzini. Mapelli then zeroed in on the Ferrari trio that had occupied the podium after trouble hit the pole-sitting Lamborghini Gallardo. The best 458 Italia, in the hands of the Magli-Ferrara pair, was nearly ten seconds away at this stage. Mapelli did not blink when he had to move past Necchi-Frassineti's 458 Italia for P3, then made up the gap from duelling Ferrari drivers Magli and Casè.

The Audi Sport Italia driver was well aware that both the rivals had been handed a penalty of over 3-second for resuming the race jumping the mandatory 45-second time. Mapelli and Schoeffler were therefore able to post their second season win, although they could not take the flag in first place as it was waved in front of Casè instead. Mapelli and Schoeffler's achievement also snapped a 3-year losing streak for the GT3 Audis at the Tuscan venue.

The Porsche line-up that had starred in Monza wasn't nowhere near the podium, therefore after five rounds the Audi duo climbed back into the lead of the Italian series, nine points ahead of former leaders Gagliardini-Donativi and tomorrow, as they will start from pole courtesy of Mapelli, they aim to increase their lead in spite of the 15-second time handicap that a win yields.

However, the desire to win Sunday race will be even more burning for Capello and especially Zonzini: the young San Marino has recovered very well in his stint on the head of Ferrari. In the end he was the man Audi fastest on the track: has been enhanced three times (1'50 .459, 1'50 .358 and 1'50 .356), but the pace has not honored because it went off at turn Correntaio, indicating that the brakes then forced him to pump the brakes for some time the trigger.

Photo credit: Italian GT Championship

Italian GT: Mapelli-Schoeffler (Audi R8 LMS) win race-1 of the 3rd round of the Italian GT Championship

Italian GT Championship Press Release

Audi Sport Italia's drivers proceeded the two Ferrari 458 Italia of Casè-Giammaria and Magli-Ferrara. In GT Cup the Lamborghini Gallardo of Tempesta-Iacone and "El Pato”-Zanardini dominated the race.

Marco Mapelli and Thomas Schoeffler (Audi R8 LMS) claimed race-1 victory in the third round of the Italian GT Championship underway at the circuit of Mugello. The lineup of Audi Sport Italia proceeded the two Ferrari 458 Italia of Casè-Giammaria (Scuderia Baldini 27) and Magli-Ferrara (Easy Race) at the end of a tight race.

The Lamborghini Gallardo run by Imperiale Racing and driven by Amici-Barri went out after holding the lead of the race for a long time in the first stint (rear splitter failure), similar fate for the Ferrari 458 Italia driven Lucchini-Pier Guidi (out due to an incident) and the Audi R8 LMS of Capello-Zonzini, that came to the fore towards the end of the race (stopped on the gravel trap due to braking problems).

The victory in GT Cup went to Tempesta-Iacone (Lamborghini Gallardo-Bonaldi Motorsport) ahead of team mates "El Pato"-Zanardini and Baccani-Venerosi (Porsche 997-Antonelli Motorsport).

Mapelli and Schoeffler (51) are currently leading the GT3 classification, ahead of Donativi-Gagliardini (42) and Carboni-Beretta (41), while Omar Galbiati keeps the lead of GT Cup as he reached 59 points, that is 4 clear of Passuti, Iacone and Tempesta.

Race-2 will start tomorrow at local 16:00hrs (pole by Mapelli), with live coverage on Dinamica Channel (free view and SKY) and recorded broadcast on Raisport2 at 19:20hrs. Web streaming will be available at www.acisportitalia.it/GT.

Race-1 as it happened: the poleman got the lead at the start and was followed by Ferrara, who had a good start from the second row, then Frassineti, Schoeffler, Giammaria, Carboni and Capello followed in the order, while Iacone got the lead in GT Cup proceeding Baccani and Maestri. Giammaria made a successful move on Schoeffler at lap two and the race did not have any other twists for several laps as the top four drivers started pulling away.

At lap 8 Lucchini and Mora had a contact while battling P10 out and the BMS Scuderia Italia's driver had the worst of it as he got stranded in the sand. Carboni took Schoeffler at the following lap gaining P5, and then he was followed by Capello. In GT Cup Iacone pulled away from Baccani and Maestri.

Giammaria moved his attack to Frassineti at lap 11, but the driver from Rome managed to keep his third place, while Ferrara got closer and closer to the race leader and eventually found his way past him at lap 12, exactly when pit lane was open for the drivers change.

At lap 14, Barri, who replaced Amici, had to pit due to a failure of the front splitter ending his race early. Magli, who replaced Ferrara, was in the lead at the end of the pit stops.

Easy Race's driver had a 3"8s margin to Casè, who took the wheel of Giammaria, followed by Necchi, on Frassineti's car, and Mapelli who replaced Schoeffler, while Zonzini got P5 ahead of Benucci, Beretta, Gagliardini, Renauer and D'Amico. In GT Cup Venerosi took over from Baccani leading Tempesta and Bodega.

At lap 19, Mapelli found his way past Necchi for P3 and then was followed by team mate Zonzini. Sà Silva had a spectacular off that did not have any physical consequence for the driver.

The final laps lived strong emotions as Casè got Magli's slipstream. The driver from Bologna managed to fend off Scuderia Baldini 27's attacks for a while, but behind them the two Audis of Mapelli and Zonzini were closing in. The driver from St. Marin had to stop in the sand at lap 24 due to some brakes problems that ended his race early.

At the penultimate lap Casè had a go to Magli and managed to get past him at the Bucine corner. The two crossed the finish line in this order but Mapelli - third at the flag - got on the top step of the podium as the first two lineups were penalyzed due to a wrong drivers' change.

The fourth place went to Necchi, who led Beretta, Gagliardini, Renauer, Benucci, D'Amico, Mengozzi and Tempesta, as the latter, together with Iacone, won in GT Cup ahead of team mates "El Pato"-Zanardini and Baccani-Venerosi.

Photo credit: Italian GT Championship

Italian GT: Audi Sport Italia drivers take on Mugello aiming at Italian GT victory No. 3

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Win Drought at the Tuscan Venue Now Dates Back to 2011
• Mapelli-Schoeffler, Capello-Zonzini Keen to Leave Monza Behind

Nibbiola (NO) – The 2014 Gran Turismo season resumes this weekend, and the Italian series seems still beaming with health: despite the summer date, which in the past draw less entries, especially from amateur drivers, Mugello will host another 25-car field, level with Monza and Misano Adriatico. Moreover, it should not be taken lightly that the 16-car mark in the top (GT3) class set in the Misano Adriatico opener was also within reach: in Tuscany there will be 15 GT3s, courtesy of a couple of late additions. In this land of plenty, balance is king and Audi standard bearers Marco Mapelli / Thomas Schoeffler (third 6 points adrift of provisional leading duo Vincenzo Donativi / Andrea Gagliardini) and Dindo Capello / Emanuele Zonzini (fifth with 11 points to make up from the top), have a common goal: to be the first drivers to repeat a victory in a season in which not only it's difficult to win, but even stepping on the podium is an achievement. If they were to do so in the lone Italian summer meeting (the rounds scheduled for late August are across the border in France at Paul Ricard) the drivers of the Audi R8 LMS ultra would be undertaking something akin to what in tennis would breaking the serve, giving them an edge on the best Ferrari and Porsche line-ups and putting themselves on the right path for the second half of the Italian GT "tournament".

If, a bit over a month ago, Monza disrupted Audi Sport Italia run to the 2014 Italian GT title with lackluster races, the drivers are poised to steer back into contention. And, in all sincerity, Mugello is one of the tracks that has never been favorable to the colors of Ingolstadt: to find an Audi success we must go back to 2011, when Marco Bonanomi and Andrea Sonvico did so at the wheel of an Audi R8 LMS whose version "ultra" yet had to come. This year, however, the basis for tackling the difficult Tuscan track seems better than usual: first of all, that's the feeling relayed by a mid-June test session that all the Audi Sport Italia drivers but Capello (booked by the factory) took part to. It's a positive feedback confirmed as far as performance is concerned. Second: most likely those who will attend the meeting probably will think of a late spring weekend, rather than hacing to face the typical scorching heath that is common across the Apennines at the height of summer. That's not a trivial issue, as in the past R8s in Italy as well as abroad were not at their best when tracks were hit by heatwaves. Last but not least, the habit to keep fingers crossed for your car tyres seems to have been shelved for good; unfortunately this was common in the past two seasons, when a raft of blown rubber cost at least two probable Audi victories.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

EuroV8 Series: Audi Sport Italia head to Czech Republic with strengthened line-up

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Tomas Kostka to aim for series lead in home race, Ermanno Dionisio for podium
• Brno meeting to host much-anticipated Emanuele Zonzini's EuroV8 Series debut

Nibbiola, Italy – The second half of 2014 EuroV8 Series 2014 kicks off at scenic Brno circuit, and Audi Sport Italia is ready to make the headlines adding to strong line-up a youthful, but already familiar to Audi fans: Emanuele Zonzini. The San Marino-born driver has made a sensational debut with the Emilio Radaelli-led team when, paired with Audi legend Dindo Capello, won his first race sitting in a four ring race car in the Italian GT opener at Misano Adriatico. His GT3 appearences in a R8 apparently haven't satiated his appetite for racing and the GP3 graduate has set his sight on touring cars, as well. He's to take part to the remaining races staged by the maurizio Flammini-run series driving the V8 RS 5 No. 2 where so far Davide Stancheris was sitting. For Zonzini the overall title is obviously un unattainable goal. Race wins, as well as the rookie crown are, tho.

However, Brno first and foremost will be "the race" for Tomas Kostka, who'll strive to live the same feel that BMW's Niccolo Mercatali enjoyed in Mugello race two: celebrating in front of the home crowd. It should not be overlooked that in achieving this goal Kostka would also be well positioned in his quest to displace Mercedes' Nicola Baldan from the series' provisional lead. He can count on some reassuring news, as the Zlin-born driver will be driving an Audi fifty kilos lighter than during the ill-fated Mugello journey, while the Mercedes AMG coupe of his main rival will be beefed up as an outocome of utter success in Tuscany. In short: two races not to missed beckon, and Kostka has prepared them with a succesful shake-down on Tuesday at Tazio Nuvolari circuit, near Voghera, Italy. Zonzini also had there his first taste of what a 4WD race car is. Within Audi Sport Italia the man who less lacks mileage in the RS 5, to date, is instead Ermanno Dionisio. The former rally driver from Brixia, Italy is the Audi Sport driver who has put in more laps both in the V8 series and in the mighty RS 5. In Czech Republic he'll aim for a podium spot, something that he managed to achieve in Rome, but ultimately escaped him at Mugello, after a brilliant start of race two.

Photo credit: EuroV8 Series

Italian GT: Audi points lead dades as safety-car beckons in Monza race two

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

• Marco Mapelli, Thomas Schoeffler Lead At The Start But Wind Up in P8
• Sixth Place For Dindo Capello And Emanuele Zonzini, Who Started From Pole

Monza – Today in round four of the Italian GT neither Dindo Capello and Emanuele Zonzini--starting from pole position-- nor Marco Mapelli and Thomas Schoeffler --staying on top in the eight opening laps -- were able to claw their way to a podium finish.

Monza's homeboy Mapelli had a brilliant getaway at the start. The provisional points leader went on to fight boldly for the top spot with Lamborghini's Andrea Amici. However, Mapelli had to relinquish the lead to the swifter and ligther Gallardo, but both drivers' effort was soon hindered by a safety car period that took place on the brink of the mandatory pit stop. The closest pursuers pitted one lap earlier than both of them, whilst Schoeffler--who took over from Mapelli--finished in eighth place.

Pole-sitter Zonzini fought valiantly at the start of the race for fourth place with the Porsches that wound up sweeping the Top3. Capello, who resumed the race in P3 taking over from the young team mate, also found himself trailing the 997s driven by Gagliardini-Donations and Beretta-Carboni The Asti-based driver had soon to give way to Babini-Bianco's Porsche, as the braking was getting worse and he entangled himself with Ferrara-Magli's Ferrari eventually dropping to P6.

Sunday's meager box score translates in Mapelli and Schoeffler dropping from first to third in the championship tables, albeit only six points behind new leaders Donativi-Gagliardini. Capello, Zonzini are now five points adrift of team mates and eleven behind the new series leaders.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia