Superstars

Bertolini Dominates Race 2 To Secure Double Win At Spa

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Andrea Bertolini took a lights-to-flag victory in the second International Superstars Series race at Spa-Francorchamps to complete his second double victory of the season.

Bertolini held onto the lead of the race from pole position and remained there unchallenged for the duration of the 11 lap race.

His Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi held second at the start, and was involved in an exciting battle with Max Pigoli over the opening couple of laps. Pigoli took second from Pier Guidi at Les Combes on the first lap, only for Pier Guidi to take the place back at the Bus Stop chicane.

Pigoli moved back ahead with a late-braking move into La Source, and Luigi Ferrara followed him through for third on the Kemmel straight. Pigoli managed to close the gap to leader Bertolini, crossing the finish line just under two seconds behind.

Pier Guidi was set to finish fourth behind the Mercedes duo of Pigoli and Ferrara but, just as in the first race, he suffered a technical problem and pulled off the track. Johnny Herbert inherited fourth place, but the intermittent electrical fault that robbed him of victory in the first race struck again before the checkered flag, temporarily bringing him to a halt.

This allowed Thomas Biagi to finish fourth ahead of his BMW Italia teammate Stefano Gabellini. Biagi had spent the first half of the race down in seventh and bottled up behind Gabellini, but crucially found a way through prior to Pier Guidi and Herbert's problems.

Francesco Sini was sixth, ahead of Romeo Ferraris trio Michela Cerruti, Andrea Dromedari and the recovering Herbert. Riccardo Romagnoli took tenth in his Caal Racing Mercedes.

Luigi Cecchi and Alessandro Garofano made contact on the run to Eau Rouge which put the latter in the wall and both into retirement. Alberto Cerqui's bonnet flew open on the opening lap as a result of contact. Gianni Morbidelli suffered another technical problem to add to the one that ended his first race on the final lap.

Ferrara's double podium keeps him in the championship lead, while Bertolini has moved back up into second place, ten points adrift of Ferrara. A tough weekend for Cerqui sees the youngster slip to fourth behind teammate Biagi, 43 points away from Ferrara. The next round takes place at Mugello on 25th September.

Race 2 results – 11 laps:

Pos Driver Team Car Time/Gap
1 Andrea Bertolini Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte 27:47.460
2 Max Pigoli Romeo Ferraris Mercedes AMG C63 1.950
3 Luigi Ferrara CAAL Racing Mercedes AMG C63 7.612
4 Thomas Biagi Team BMW Italia BMW M3 E92 7.944
5 Stefano Gabellini Team BMW Italia BMW M3 E92 8.295
6 Francesco Sini Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF/R5.0 11.368
7 Michela Cerruti Romeo Ferraris Mercedes AMG C63 27.142
8 Andrea Dromedari Romeo Ferraris Mercedes AMG C63 27.612
9 Johnny Herbert Romeo Ferraris Mercedes AMG C63 38.082
10 Riccardo Romagnoli CAAL Racing Mercedes AMG C63 43.836
11 Francesco Ascani Todi Corse BMW M3 E90 1:30.197
12 Roberto Benedetti RC Motorsport Cadillac CTS V 1:44.245
13 Alessandro Tambussi Movisport BMW 550i E60 +1 Lap
14 Sandro Bettini Movisport BMW M3 E90 +1 Lap
15 Alessandro Pier Guidi Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte +5 Laps
Ret Gianni Morbidelli Audi Sport Italia Audi RS4 5 Laps
Ret Alberto Cerqui Team BMW Italia BMW M3 E92 1 lap
Ret Luigi Cecchi Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF/R5.0 0 laps
Ret Alessandro Garofano Movisport BMW M3 E90 0 laps
DNS Leonardo Baccarelli Todi Corse BMW 550i E60
DNS Mauro Cesari MRT by Nocentini Chrysler 300 C SRT-8

Drivers' standings after 6 of 8 rounds:

1. Luigi Ferrara, 146 points
2. Andrea Bertolini, 136
3. Thomas Biagi, 110
4. Alberto Cerqui, 103
5. Max Pigoli, 91
6. Stefano Gabellini, 69

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Peter joined the TCF team in September 2010 and covers GP2 and GP3 along with WTCC and Formula Two. You can find him on twitter at @PeteAllen_
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