Audi Sport Italia Press Release
After eventful Saturday, Sweden's Johan Kristofferson clinches rookies' standings in round 1 and Audi Sport Italia's star Gianni Morbidelli picks up fifth place in Race 2 after vying for podium
When Audi Sport Italia's hauler unloaded two brand-new RS5s at noon on Friday at the famed Italian venue, cars were kind of smelling fresh paint and shiny bodywork. But no mileage under their belts meant that on Saturday teething troubles hindered both Gianni Morbidelli and Johan Kristoffersson, spoiling their plans to put in as many laps as possible in order to overcome their lack of familiarity with the latest Audi weapon for the up-and-coming V8 Superstars series, based on production-based beefy sedans and coupes. Audi Sport Italia runs and operates Morbidelli's RS5.
The former F-1 driver was sidelined in Qualifying due to a wiring loom problem, while Kristoffersson -- whose car is run by Sweden- based KMS -- managed to clinch a spot on Row 7 in spite of drivetrain trouble. With both RS5s reeling it was Thomas Schoeffler's turn to roll. He's to wait until Imola to make acquaintance with his own MTM Motosport-run RS5, but the surprising 19-year old German, in a one-off outing in a RS4 seat was able to improve the quickest lap set last season by such a model by nearly eight tenths of a second, clinching a spot on Row 6 -- the best Audi man on Race 1 starting grid. None the less the summer-like Italian Saturday also provided a ray of hope for the Audi tent: Kristoffersson set the third fastest time in Free Practice 2, the only trouble-free spell available to either new car driver. The Swede was only six tenths of a second off the quickest AMG Mercedes.
Race 1 confirmed that the KMS RS5 will be a force to be reckoned this season, as at the start the driver from Arvika, Sweden grabbed a Top10 spot on the opening lap and moved up the field until he caught the tail of Mika Salo's Maserati Quattroporte, putting enough pressure on the Italian car to force the former F-1 driver to go wide at the first corner on lap 11. The fifth spot was more than enough to enable the Swede to hoist the silverware reserved for the best rookie. In spite of moving from the last row Morbidelli scythed through the field at the start and on lap 11 had already climbed to a promising 11th place. A 4-lap safety-car spell form lap 4 to lap 7 bunched up the field together, and Morbidelli rallied further as the green flag was waved, clinching at the checker a pretty good seventh place. Schoeffler, in the old RS4, had to bide his time and wound up 12th, in spite of creepy drivetrain noise looming in the final minutes.
Early in Race 2 vibrations and a puncture urged Schoeffler to stop in a run off area to avoid further damage to the MTM RS4. Kristoffersson managed to put in even less laps, as he too stopped on the circuit when a plume of smoke trailed his KMS RS5. Nonetheless Morbidelli's RS5 proved that it was his time to get the spotlights, and starting form the front row on the reversed grid effortlessly joined a spectacular fray for P3 alongside Mika Salo's Maserati and Mercedes duo Andrea Larini and Nico Caladarola. By mid-race Morbidelli got past them all and even looked set to mount a chase to the leading AMG Mercedes C63. Sadly a much anticipated dog-fight between former F-1 drivers failed to materialize as pacesetter Tonio Liuzzi could take some respite for a quick full course caution. But the remaining two laps frustrated Morbidelli's effort as pick-up problems hampered the Pesaro-born ace. Morbidelli managed to cling on to a fifth place at the finish line, whilst Liuzzi claimed his maiden V8 Superstars win. The former Red Bull Junior is now second in the drivers' point standings five points adrift of leader Massimo Pigoli, who won Race 1 in his XF Jaguar and was runner-up the afternoon. Morbidelli is currently sixth, 25 points down the order, whilst Kristofferson is also in the Top10 at eigth 29 points behind Pigoli.
INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES
Round 1 - Monza, April 1, 2012
1. Massimo Pigoli (Jaguar) 13 laps 28.35.422 average speed 180.014 kph
2. Andrea Larini (AMG Mercedes) + 0.414s
3. Tonio Liuzzi (AMG Mercedes) +1.243s
4. Thomas Biagi (BMW) + 3.671s
5. JOHAN KRISTOFFERSSON (AUDI RS5) + 3.699s
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7. GIANNI MORBIDELLI(AUDI RS5) + 7.010s
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12. THOMAS SCHÖFFLER (AUDI RS4) + 34.137s
INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES
Round 2 - Monza, April 1, 2012
1. Vitantonio Liuzzi (AMG Mercedes) 13 laps 26:58.452 average speed 179.476 kph
2. Massimo Pigoli (Jaguar) + 1.153s
3. Francesco Sini (Chevrolet) + 1.602s
4. Thomas Biagi (BMW) + 3.190s
5. GIANNI MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS5) + 3.219s
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Ret. JOHAN KRISTOFFERSSON (AUDI RS5)
Ret. THOMAS SCHÖFFLER (AUDI RS4)
INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2012
Drivers Points Standings:
1. Pigoli 39 points; 2. Liuzzi 34 pts.; 3. Biagi 22 pts.;
4. Larini 21 pts.; 5. Sini 15 pts.; 6. MORBIDELLI 14 pts.; 7. Caldarola 11 pts. 8. KRISTOFFERSSON 10 pts.; 9. Salo 8 pts.; 10. Gabellini 5 pts.; ../.. 18. SCHÖFFLER 2 pts.
WHAT'S NEXT:
Race 3 and 4 - Imola (I) April 22nd, 2012.
