Thomas Biagi - Photo Credit: Superstars Series

BMW will be represented by a new team in the 2012 Superstars Series, with 2010 champion Thomas Biagi continuing to campaign one of the German marque’s cars in the championship.

Biagi, together with a yet-to-be-confirmed teammate, will race for BMW Team Dinamic – a new squad run by former racer Maurizio Lusuardi with technical support from ROAL Motorsport. Roberto Ravaglia’s ROAL team operated the BMW Team Italia entry that carried Biagi to the international and Italian titles in 2010, and teenager Alberto Cerqui to the Italian crown last year.

“I’m proud to enter a new Superstars Series challenge,” said Biagi. “The direct support by ROAL Motorsport, the same team I shared a lot of wins with in the last two seasons, will guarantee a high-level technical support, and the enthusiasm and commitment of Team Dinamic will be another key factor. I really believe in this championship. In the last few years it has become a benchmark in Touring Car competition and I’m really satisfied to be back running for 2012.”

Lusuardi said: “Being able to count on the support of ROAL Motorsport, on a title-winning car like the BMW M3 and on a sensational racer like Thomas Biagi will give our team a great opportunity. We look forward to take full advantage of it.”

Ravaglia commented: “The agreement reached with Team Dinamic will assure a bright future for the BMW M3 E92 racecars in the Superstars Series. ROAL Motorsport will give its full support by providing the technicians, the data and the expertise needed to keep competing at the highest levels.”

Vincenzo Lamaro, managing director of Superstars promoter FG Group, added: “The confirmation of the return of Biagi, the BMW M3 combined with the technical support of ROAL Motorsports and their intention to defend the titles won by BMW in the recent represent the first exciting challenge of Superstars for 2012. The participation of 10 different brands and a top-notch TV coverage for 2012, the Superstars Series will be again the top motorsports event in Italy except the Italian Formula 1 Grand Prix of Monza.”

Team Porteiro have entered two BMWs for the 2012 campaign - Photo Credit: Superstars

Former GP2 Series driver and World Touring Car Championship race-winner Felix Porteiro is set to race in the Superstars Series in 2012 for a new family-run squad called Team Porteiro.

The Spanish team have entered two BMWs for next season, where they will have support from the Spanish arm of the German car marque. Testing is already underway, with 28-year-old Felix – who raced BMWs in the WTCC from 2007 to 2009 – set to lead the team’s driver lineup.

“We rounded out a test at the Alcarrás circuit and we immediately hit great results that raised our hopes for the 2012 season,” said team owner Santiago Porteiro. “Three drivers already tested with us including Salvador Tineo, Antonio De La Reina and female racer Carmen Boix. We’re working to improve ourself on a day-by-day basis.”

Tineo has previously raced in the Spanish Mini Challenge, while De La Reina has previously raced in the Spanish SEAT Supercopa and in 2011 raced in the Superstars GT Sprint series. Boix meanwhile still races in karting.

Sentul International Circuit - Photo: Alastair Staley/GP2 Series Media Service

Superstars International Series organisers have revealed their calendar for 2012, with the standout addition of a round at the Sentul International Circuit in Indonesia to conclude the nine round season.

As in 2011, the season will kick off at Monza on 1^st April. Rounds will follow at Imola, Donington Park and Mugello before a first visit to the Hungaroring on 1^st July.

Spa-Francorchamps, Portimao and Vallelunga will also host races before the Sentul date on 11^th November. The calendar is set to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

Improvements are due to be made to the track, which has previously hosted A1 Grand Prix and the GP2 Asia Series. This will include new asphalt being laid and the addition of a chicane at the final corner.

“This agreement with Indonesia is promising for the future of Superstars,” said Maurizio Flammini, president of series promoter FG Group.

“I have recently visited the circuit which remains one of Asia’s more fascinating. It is also located only 30 minutes from Jakarta, which has become one of the world’s major capitals with its 22 million inhabitants, when including the periphery.

“Indonesia is one of Asia’s fastest developing countries with growth at more than 6%. Taking Superstars to Indonesia is an important opportunity for our drivers, teams and the industrial world that follows the Superstars International Series.”

It is anticipated that Indonesian racing star Ananda Mikola will contest the Sentul round, as well as the entire 2012 season.

Sentul chief Tinton Soeprapto said: “We are very happy to have the Superstars International Series coming to Sentul in 2012 and glad to continue a long relationship with FG Group. 

“Indonesia is a strong market and we are confident that the event will be successful and annual. We have an improved track, including Grade level enhancement from 4 to 2 once FIA inspectors give their approval, and have an experienced crew to operate the event.  This is also a great opportunity for our local hero, Ananda Mikola, to race in front of a big home crowd.”

The new agreement will allow more youngsters like Giovanni Venturini to get a chance in Auto GP. Photo Credit: Auto GP

Auto GP and the International Superstars Series have signed an agreement to help promote young talent in the two series.

Superstars will create a Rookie of the Year classification for 2012, open to series newcomers up to the age of 24.

The winner of that trophy will then be able to contest five rounds of the following year’s Auto GP season. Prior to that, the contenders for the crown in 2012 will get the chance to test the Auto GP car next year.

The new partnership between the two Italian-run series will bear fruit in just a few weeks, when Alberto Cerqui, newly crowned champion of the Italian Superstars classification and best rookie of the 2011 season, takes part in the Auto GP promotional test at Magione.

“Throughout the years I often heard people saying that when a driver commits to Touring Car racing, it means that his single-seater chances are over,” said Auto GP series boss Enzo Coloni.

“Frankly, I couldn’t agree less with that: when I was a racer I could drive any kind of machinery on the limit, from single-seaters to saloon cars or even Sportscars, and I believe that today that’s still very possible for a gifted driver. So, as soon as we started speaking about this with [Superstars counterpart] Maurizio Flammini and his staff, I saw the chance to go against a motorsport taboo, something that I often did in my career.

“Working together, Auto GP and Superstars created an unique chance in motorsport, a programme that will give a young driver a chance to show on single-seater the same talent he boasted on a saloon car. Furthermore he will have the opportunity to do so in the same championship that launched Romain Grosjean back on the right path to GP2 and F1 and that in 2011 elected Kevin Ceccon as one of the most interesting talents in European motorsport. Could you ask for more?”

Andrea Bertolini celebrates after the race - Photo Credit: Superstars Series

Andrea Bertolini has won the International Superstars Series title after completing an emphatic double victory at Vallelunga. The result was more than enough to overhaul erstwhile points leader Luigi Ferrara and secure the crown.

Just like in the first race, Bertolini’s Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi jumped Alberto Cerqui at the start, giving polesitter Bertolini the chance to build up a gap up front.

Cerqui lost a further place to Johnny Herbert at the start, and was passed by Herbert’s fellow Romeo Ferraris driver Max Pigoli a lap later. Ferrara meanwhile had made his way up to sixth after starting from 12^th on the grid.

He would soon be passed though by the charging Gianni Morbidelli, in his Audi RS4. The former champion took fifth from Cerqui on lap five, and passed Herbert a couple of laps later (the Briton having already been demoted from third by Pigoli).

On lap 10 Pier Guidi lost two places to Pigoli and Morbidelli, allowing the duo to chase after leader Bertolini. Morbidelli took second from Pigoli on the penultimate lap, but was unable to prevent Bertolini from winning the race, and with it the title.

Pigoli fell back to fourth on the final lap, handing Pier Guidi the final spot on the podium. Herbert was fifth ahead of Cerqui and his BMW teammate Stefano Gabellini. Ferrara ended up eighth, losing the championship lead that he had maintained since the races at Donington Park. Michela Cerruti and Thomas Biagi completed the top ten, the latter recovering from an off on the second lap that dropped him down as far as 19^th place.

Bertolini’s win meant that he turned a four point deficit to Ferrara into a final margin of 13 points, with Cerqui third in the final standings just two points behind Ferrara. There was some consolation for rookie Cerqui though, who wrapped up the Italian Championship classification.

Race results – 16 laps:

Final drivers’ standings after 8 rounds:

Andrea Bertolini takes the checkered flag at the end of the first race - Photo Credit: Superstars Series

Andrea Bertolini moved to within four points of the International Superstars Series points lead with a dominant victory in the first race at the Vallelunga season finale.

The Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte driver made a good start from pole position and was able to quickly open up a lead when teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi slotted into second place ahead of Alberto Cerqui, one of Bertolini’s title rivals.

Pier Guidi allowed Bertolini to run off into the distance on the opening lap, keeping Cerqui and his BMW Italia teammates Thomas Biagi and Stefano Gabellini at bay. Pier Guidi picked up his pace before the end, leaving Cerqui to settle for third ahead of Biagi and Gabellini.

The main action during the race was the battle over sixth place. This was held by Max Pigoli early on, ahead of Romeo Ferraris teammate Michela Cerruti. Points leader Luigi Ferrara had started down in 12^th after engine troubles in qualifying, but moved up to eighth on the opening lap in his Caal Racing Mercedes.

He found a way past Cerruti for seventh on the second lap, and set off after Pigoli. Ferrara took sixth from Pigoli on lap six, but Pigoli regained the place at the same corner on the following lap, making contact in the process.

Ferrara had to spend the rest of the race defending from Cerruti, but after the race Pigoli was handed a three second penalty for the contact. This dropped him behind Ferrara and down to seventh.

Francesco Sini finished ninth behind Cerruti, now behind the wheel of a Roma Racing Team Mercedes after switching from the Ferlito Jaguar XF. Andrea Dromedari completed the top ten for Romeo Ferraris.

The result left Ferrara with a four point lead over Bertolini, with Cerqui just one further point behind.

Race results – 16 laps:

Andrea Bertolini - Photo Credit: Superstars Series

Andrea Bertolini has taken pole position for the International Superstars Series title decider at Vallelunga. The Maserati Quattroporte driver currently lies third in the standings, 20 points (or one win) behind points leader Luigi Ferrara.

Bertolini was 0.475 seconds ahead of BMW Italia driver Alberto Cerqui. The rookie is 11 points behind Ferrara. He edged out Bertolini’s teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi by just 0.023s.

Thomas Biagi, reigning champion and tied with Bertolini coming into the weekend, qualified fourth. Johnny Herbert was the best of the Mercedes in fifth, one second away from Bertolini. He just pipped Stefano Gabellini, with Gianni Morbidelli and Michela Cerruti filling the forth row of the grid.

Ferrara could only manage 12^th on the grid, again suffering with engine problems just as he did in both races at the Mugello round.

Alberto Cerqui leads the way at Mugello - Photo Credit: Superstars Series

Alberto Cerqui closed on International Superstars Series points leader Luigi Ferrara with a double victory in the penultimate round of the season at Mugello.

In the first race, the BMW Italia youngster lead away from pole position at the rolling start. He held on to the lead until the checkered flag, crossing the line 3.754 seconds ahead of the Maserati Quattroporte of Alessandro Pier Guidi.

Stefano Gabellini and Luca Rangoni both got past Pier Guidi for second early on but then made contact and both went off, with Johnny Herbert also going off and spinning in avoidance just behind them.

Max Pigoli came home in third to complete the podium, just ahead of Thomas Biagi and a recovering Herbert. Ferrara suffered engine problems in his Mercedes and finished sixth.

In the second race Pier Guidi took the lead from Cerqui at the first corner, but Rangoni was soon ahead of both of them. However, contact from Pier Guidi put both in the gravel trap and handed the lead back to Cerqui. Pier Guidi was later black flagged for the move.

Cerqui was followed across the line by teammate Biagi, with Herbert in third. Gabellini was fourth, ahead of Pigoli and Francesco Sini. Ferrara struggled with engine problems again and was seventh.

Ferrara now leads Cerqui by 11 points ahead of the finale at Vallelunga, with Andrea Bertolini and Biagi tied for third, 20 points behind Ferrara.

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 25^th September.

Race 2 results – 11 laps:

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

Herbert made a flying start from the third row of the grid in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes C63 AMG to move into second place at La Source, challenging polesitter Bertolini. Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte driver Bertolini led the field through Eau Rouge for the first time, followed by Herbert, the Briton’s teammate Max Pigoli and the CAAL Racing Mercedes of Luigi Ferrara.

Herbert didn’t take long to get past Bertolini, passing the Italian later on the opening lap. Bertolini remained on his tail for the rest of the race, eventually forcing a mistake from him in the second half of the race. Herbert outbraked himself into the Bus Stop chicane, but cut the corner and retained the lead over the start/finish line. Bertolini tried to take advantage by diving down the inside at La Source, only to run wide himself and drop to third behind Ferrara.

Championship leader Ferrara soon took his turn to run wide, doing so at Pouhon and allowing Bertolini back through for second. Herbert looked like he would hold on up front to score his first victory with the Mercedes, but his car slowed out of the Bruxelles hairpin on the penultimate lap. Bertolini inherited the lead which he kept over the remaining lap and a half to score his fourth win of the year. Ferrara followed him over the finish line in second to strengthen his lead in the standings. Herbert managed to get going again, holding on to third place.

Herbert’s cause was helped by Gianni Morbidelli coming to a halt and retiring on the final lap of the race. The former champion was making his first start of the year for Audi Sport Italia after his planned comeback at Misano ended in a double non-start. He looked set to finish in fourth place until his RS4 gave up on him on the last tour.

Herbert was poised for his first win until electrical problems struck. Photo: Superstars Series

Michela Cerruti came through to finish fourth, scoring her best result since her victory in the season opener at Monza. She powered her way past Romeo Ferraris teammate Max Pigoli in the second half of the race. Pigoli had run third on the opening lap but did not have the pace of those around him and fell backwards. He came home in fifth, holding off the advances of the BMW Italia duo of Thomas Biagi and Alberto Cerqui.

It had been a tough race for the factory-supported BMWs, Biagi, Cerqui and teammate Stefano Gabellini spending most of the race fighting each other in the lower end of the top ten. Gabellini would eventually retire, while Biagi fought his way back to sixth ahead of Cerqui after being spun around by the Jaguar of Francesco Sini earlier in the race.

Alessandro Garofano finished eighth in his Movisport BMW. He has replaced Alex De Giacomi in the no. 99 machine for this weekend, having made his debut with the RGA Sportsmanship team back in Misano. Riccardo Romagnoli finished ninth in the second of the Caal Racing Mercedes despite being knocked into a spin by Gabellini, which the latter received a drive-through penalty for. Luigi Cecchi finished tenth, ahead of Ferlito Motors teammate Sini who was another to serve a drive-through after his incident with Biagi.

The second Maserati of Alessandro Pier Guidi , which began on the front row at the rolling start, held fourth place until he came into the pits with a suspected electrical problem.

Race 1 results – 11 laps:

Bertolini posted his best time of 2:52.538 early on in the session, with Pier Guidi coming closest albeit 1.018 adrift.

Luigi Ferrara was next best in his CAAL Racing Mercedes C63 AMG, a further six and half tenths behind Pier Guidi. Gianni Morbidelli was fourth in his Audi Sport Italia RS4. The former champion looks set to make his series comeback for real this weekend after suffering engine problems last time out at Misano. Things did not go entirely smoothly for Morbidelli during the session though – a gear lever failure slowing him down at one point. He was pipped to third by Ferrara by just 0.062s.

Romeo Ferraris Mercedes duo Max Pigoli and Johnny Herbert will start from the third row of the grid, separated by more than three tenths. Behind them on the timesheets were the first of the BMWs, with Stefano Gabellini ahead of Thomas Biagi. The latter will only start the first race from tenth though due to a two-place penalty carried over from Misano. The ROAL-run duo were 2.4 and 2.6 seconds away from Bertolini respectively.

Michela Cerruti recorded the ninth best time in her Romeo Ferraris Mercedes, narrowly ahead of the Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF of Francesco Sini.

The third factory BMW of Alberto Cerqui could only manage 12^th, behind privateer Alessandro Garofano who has switched from RGA Sportsmanship to Movisport for this weekend after making his season debut last time out at Misano.

The session was interrupted by a red flag after the lone Chrysler 300C of Mauro Cesari went up in flames.

Qualifying times:

The reigning champion was more than a second quicker for BMW Italia than his nearest rival, championship leader Luigi Ferrara in his CAAL Mercedes.

Third best of the Superstars runners in the half an hour session, which was shared with the International GT Sprint competitors, was Max Pigoli, nearly another second further back as drivers used the session simply to get a feeling for the track and their machines.

Biagi’s teammate Alberto Cerqui was just behind Pigoli in fourth, with Johnny Herbert next up in the second of the Romeo Ferraris Mercedes. Alberto Bertolini was sixth in his Swiss Team Maserati.

In GT Sprint, Matteo Cressoni headed the timesheets for Edil Cris, with AF Corse’s Giuseppe Ciro nine tenths behind. Corvette driver Roberto del Castello was third, with Max Mugelli and Marco Antonelli completing the top five.

Full times

The Roma Racing Team Mercedes driver moved into second place at the rolling start past Thomas Biagi and behind polesitter Alberto Cerqui. Biagi was also passed by Luigi Ferrara, repeating his poor start from the first race.

Rangoni passed Cerqui for the lead on lap two, and held onto the lead until the checkered flag, despite his lead being cancelled by a mid-race safety car due to oil on the circuit from Riccardo Bossi’s Audi.

Max Pigoli attempted to take third place from Ferrara, but pushed his fellow Mercedes wide and off the circuit. This dropped both down the order, with Andrea Bertolini assuming third place.

Bertolini and Biagi passed Cerqui for second and third places respectively, but then made contact as Biagi tried to pass the Maserati. This sent both cars spinning and dropped them down the order. Johnny Herbert took advantage of the incident to move into second place, as Ferrara and Cerqui had to take a wide line to avoid the two spinning cars.

Ferrara crossed the line in third behind Herbert but was handed a 0.5 second penalty for contact with Cerqui on the final lap. This promoted Cerqui to third with Ferrara fourth. Stefano Gabellini followed the duo across the line in fifth, ahead of Alessandro Pier Guidi in his Maserati.

Riccardo Romagnoli and Andrea Dromedari finished seventh and eighth, with Mauro Cesari and Alex De Giacomi completing the top ten.

Ferrara has extended his championship lead to 19 points, with Cerqui now second. Bertolini has slipped to third, 23 points off the lead with Biagi a further point behind.

The next round of the season takes place at Spa-Francorchamps on 7^th August.

Race 2 results – 14 laps:

Championship standings after 5 of 8 rounds:

1. Luigi Ferrara, 118 points
2. Alberto Cerqui, 99 points
3. Andrea Bertolini, 95 points
4. Thomas Biagi, 94 points
5. Max Pigoli, 68 points
6. Stefano Gabellini, 61 points

The 19-year-old Team BMW Italia driver held onto his lead from pole position and kept it for the duration of the race, taking the checkered flag with an advantage of 7.5 seconds.

Cerqui’s teammate Biagi started alongside him on the front row, but was jumped by both Luigi Ferrara and Luca Rangoni in their Mercedes at the rolling start, demoting the defending champion to fourth.

Rangoni, making his series return this weekend, then made a mistake though which let Biagi through into third. Rangoni would soon regain the place, but he ran wide again later in the race. This allowed Biagi through into third for good, finishing the race just behind runner-up Ferrara.

Another slide wide for Rangoni later in the race dropped him to fifth behind Johnny Herbert at the finish. The Briton had climbed from tenth on the grid in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes.

Andrea Bertolini finished sixth in his Swiss Team Maserati, ahead of the two Mercedes of Riccardo Romagnoli and Andrea Dromedari. Sergio Hernandez finished ninth in his Campos Racing BMW ahead of the Motorzone Chevrolet of Fabrizio Armetta.

Race 1 results – 16 laps:

Having topped the Friday test session and both free practice sessions on Saturday, the 19-year-old spent much of the session on top spot before Biagi moved into provisional pole in the closing stages. Cerqui then ensured he remained on top by beating Biagi at the very end of the session.

Luca Rangoni was an impressive third, the former World Touring Car Championship driver making his season debut in the championship in a Roma Racing Team Mercedes, four tenths behind the BMWs.

Rangoni was two tenths ahead of the regular frontrunning Mercedes drivers Luigi Ferrara (CAAL) and Max Pigoli (Romeo Ferraris).

Andrea Bertolini, double race winner in Donington, had to settle for sixth in his Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte. The BMWs of Christian Montanari and Stefano Gabellini will share the fourth row of the grid for tomorrow’s races.

Bertolini’s teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi was ninth, with Johnny Herbert rounding out the top ten in his Mercedes.

The returning Gianni Morbidelli was 14^th for Audi Sport Italia, having had engine problems in his RS4. His German teammate Thomas Schoffler, making his debut in the series this weekend, did not take part in the qualifying session. The same could be said for the new Lexus IS of Diego Romanini, which finally made its Superstars bow this weekend.

Qualifying results:

The outfit recently announced that former series champion Morbidelli will re-join the team for the remainder of 2011 as well as 2012 when they introduce their new RS5 model.

Schoffler, born in 1993, has been racing in the Volkswagen Scirocco R-Cup this year. He and Morbidelli will join Ermanno Dionisio and Riccardo Bossi behind the wheel of the team’s cars at the Adriatic circuit. Bossi will hope to repeat the fourth place finish he achieved at the Italian championship round at the same track a month ago.

“The Superstars Series is an important part of our history,” said Team Manager Emilio Radaelli. “We’re happy to have Gianni back with us, and I’m sure that the RS4 has a lot of potential yet to show this season.

“We’re looking forward to fielding our new driver Thomas Schoffler, who proved to have already merged with the team. For 2012 we’re developing the new RS5 and we’ll be definitely aiming at the title.”

The new Audi RS5 will join the Superstars grid later in the 2011 season, and thanks to a deal with Brescia-based industrial firm Camozzi, Morbidelli will be behind the wheel when the new racecar gets its debut.

Morbidelli won four Superstars titles, including two Italian titles with Audi Sport Italia in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 he raced for BMW Italia, winning both the Italian and International series titles.

No date has yet been given for the debut of the RS5 – but in the meantime Morbidelli will race one of the team’s existing RS4 models with which he won his titles in the past.

“Having Audi Sport Italia fully-committed on the new RS5 project is really rewarding, as the new car will be joining a long list of car models currently racing in Superstars,” said Vincenzo Lamaro, the managing director of series promotor FGGroup.

“And in addition to Audi, we welcome back Gianni Morbidelli, whose name is strictly tied to Superstars. He’ll have to face many challengers along the way, including Herbert, Biagi and Bertolini, but we are sure that he will be back at the top immediately.”

Biagi arrived at Donington Park as the standings leader, but a disappointing qualifying performance combined with maximum success ballast and contact with rivals saw the Team BMW Italia driver leave with only a few points and drop to third in the points.

After qualifying back in seventh place, Race 1 saw Biagi cross the finish line in the same position despite carrying the maximum 60kg of success ballast.

In Race 2 he got himself as high as fourth place but a series of clashes with rivals saw him drop to ninth in the closing stages.

“I am really sorry for losing a precious fourth place due to an excess of aggression of some rivals that, if not sanctioned, risks to progressively change the championship in an anti-sportive event,” said Biagi.

“Despite the 60kg sportive ballast on board, in race one I managed to limit damages with the seventh place; it is crystal clear anyway that the less powerful a car is the higher the effect is of the handicap weight therefore the M3 BMW is the most penalised car by this mechanism.

“The only positive aspect of this weekend is perhaps the fact that the results obtained today will give me no ballast for next round in Misano.”

Just like in Race 1, Bertolini got the jump on polesitter Alberto Cerqui (Team BMW Italia) at the start. From here Bertolini controlled the race to win by 3.8 seconds.

Luigi Ferrara and Johnny Herbert also got the better of Cerqui at the start, but the latter was tipped into a spin on the exit of Redgate by the BMW driver, which dropped the Brit down the field.

Ferrara remained in second place for CAAL Racing, with Alessandro Pier Guidi completing the podium in the second Maserati, an impressive result on his debut weekend in the championship.

Max Pigoli was fourth for Romeo Ferraris, ahead of Christian Montanari (RGA BMW) who recovered from being spun around by Thomas Biagi on the opening lap while in fifth. Herbert too made a strong recovery from his spin to finish sixth.

Cerqui made it home in seventh, ahead of Fabrizio Armetta and Biagi. The third factory BMW of Stefano Gabellini completed the top ten.

Ferrara has taken the championship lead, with Bertolini second four points behind. Biagi has slipped to third following a difficult weekend, 11 points off Ferrara. The next round takes place at Misano on 10^th July.

Race results after 17 laps:

Swiss Team Maserati driver Bertolini took the lead from polesitter Alberto Cerqui at the start of the race, with Herbert too getting the jump on the young Team BMW Italia driver.

Bertolini built up a gap to Herbert in the early stages of the race, but the Romeo Ferraris Mercedes driver closed up to the Italian in the closing stages of the race, crossing the finish line 0.898 seconds behind.

Cerqui remained in third place to complete the podium, four seconds behind Bertolini. Luigi Ferrara finished fourth in his CAAL Racing Mercedes, ahead of Christian Montanari of RGA Motorsport in his BMW. Alessandro Pier Guidi finished his debut Superstars race in sixth in the second of the Swiss Team Maseratis.

Championship leader Thomas Biagi could not improve upon his poor grid position of seventh, having dropped behind Francesco Sini in the Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF at the start, only to recover the position later on. Fabrizio Armetta and Max Pigoli completed the top ten.

Race results after 17 laps:

1. Andrea Bertolini (Swiss Maserati) 27:02.854
2. Johnny Herbert (Romeo Ferraris Mercedes) +0.898
3. Alberto Cerqui (BMW Italia) +4.206
4. Luigi Ferrara (CAAL Mercedes) +7.710
5. Christian Montanari (RGA BMW) +8.352
6. Alessandro Pier Guidi (Swiss Maserati) +13.406
7. Thomas Biagi (BMW Italia) +17.982
8. Francesco Sini (Ferlito Jaguar) +19.888
9. Fabrizio Armetta (Motorzone Chevrolet) +20.699
10. Max Pigoli (Romeo Ferraris Mercedes) +21.383

Full results

Johnny Herbert secured a solid third place on the grid for his home round of the series, qualifying as the best Mercedes runner for Romeo Ferraris. He was 0.141s off Cerqui’s pole time.

Luigi Ferrara qualified in fourth in his CAAL Racing Mercedes, six tenths off Cerqui. He was just half a tenth quicker than Alessandro Pier Guidi, who is making his Superstars debut behind the wheel of the second Maserati Quattroporte.

Christian Montanari continued his strong pace at Donington, qualifying sixth in his RGA Motorsport BMW. His best time was just three thousandths of a second quicker than that of reigning champion and points leader Thomas Biagi in his factory BMW.

Francesco Sini put his Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF eighth on the grid for its ‘home’ race, while Max Pigoli and Stefano Gabellini will both be disappointed to be on the fifth row in their Mercedes and BMW respectively.

Qualifying results:

1. Alberto Cerqui (BMW) 1:33.905
2. Andrea Bertolini (Maserati) +0.093
3. Johnny Herbert (Mercedes) +0.141
4. Luigi Ferrara (Mercedes) +0.628
5. Alessandro Pier Guidi (Maserati) +0.683
6. Christian Montanari (BMW) +1.206
7. Thomas Biagi (BMW) +1.209
8. Francesco Sini (Jaguar) +1.303
9. Max Pigoli (Mercedes) +1.422
10. Stefano Gabellini (BMW) +1.476

Full qualifying results

The 18-year-old Team BMW Italia driver posted the fastest time of 1m34.334 during the first of the two sessions. He was 0.194s quicker than teammate and standings leader Thomas Biagi.

Max Pigoli was third quickest in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes, 0.324s off Cerqui, with Friday test pacesetter Andrea Bertolini fourth in his Maserati Quattroporte just 0.027s behind. Johnny Herbert was fifth for Romeo Ferraris, three hundredths behind Bertolini.

Christian Montanari was sixth, with Luigi Ferrara a second off the pace in seventh. The Caal Racing Mercedes driver was still adjusting to the circuit having missed Friday’s test.

The second session was only ten minutes old when the circuit was hit by the English weather which brought heavy rain. Ferrara was quickest at that point, meaning he was on top when the session ended. His 1m39.272 was nearly five seconds off Cerqui’s time from the first session.

Biagi was second again, with Francesco Sini third in his Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF. Montanari was fourth, ahead of Stefano Gabellini and Riccardo Romagnoli.

Bertolini was the only man to go under 1m35s during the session. Alberto Cerqui was his nearest challenger for Team BMW Italia, 0.598s off the Maserati’s best time. Max Pigoli was the quickest of the Mercedes in third place for the Romeo Ferraris team.

Christian Montanari was a surprise challenger towards the front, ending the session in fourth place in his RGA Motorsport BMW. After failing to start either of the races at Monza and then missing the Valencia and Portimao rounds altogther, the San Marino racer arrives in Donington off the back of a podium in the Italian championship round at Misano two weeks ago.

Fifth was Stefano Gabellini for BMW Italia, one place ahead of home favourite Johnny Herbert. Reigning champion and standings leader Thomas Biagi was seventh quickest. Francesco Sini was eighth in his Jaguar XF, with Riccardo Romagnoli and Michela Cerruti rounding out the top ten.

Test session results (top ten):

1. Andrea Bertolini (Maserati) 1:34.477
2. Alberto Cerqui (BMW) + 0.598
3. Max Pigoli (Mercedes) + 0.662
4. Christian Montanari (BMW) +0.875
5. Stefano Gabellini (BMW) +0.877
6. Johnny Herbert (Mercedes) + 0.914
7. Thomas Biagi (BMW) + 0.971
8. Francesco Sini (Jaguar) + 1.591
9. Riccardo Romagnoli (Mercedes) + 2.114
10. Michela Cerruti (Mercedes) + 2.180

Full results

The 27-year-old Italian replaces Andrea Chiesa in the Swiss Team-run car, as teammate to official Maserati Corse driver Andrea Bertolini.

Chiesa shared a sole car with Bertolini at the opening round of the season at Monza, scoring a podium in the second race. He then missed Valencia as the team prepared a second car for him. He then drove that second car at Portimao, scoring two points finishes.

Pier Guidi has a history of racing Maseratis, driving them in both the FIA GT Championship and the Maserati Trofeo. He has also had stints racing in A1 Grand Prix and Superleague Formula.

Pier Guidi’s arrival in Superstars isn’t the only change to the grid. Ivan Tramontozzi has replaced Sandro Bettini at Movisport, whose BMW 500i model is set to be shared during the course of the weekend by Giampiero Pindari and “Linos”, the father of regular driver Francesca Linossi who is set to be absent from Donington. Meanwhile, Mauro Cesari has switched from the MRT Chrysler 300C to a RGA Sportsmanship BMW, driving the car previously raced by Kristian Ghedina.

The focus of much of the attention will be on British star Johnny Herbert. The former Grand Prix driver will line up for the Romeo Ferraris team in one of their Mercedes C63 AMGs.

Herbert will hope for better results than he enjoyed last time out at Portimao, where tyre problems twice cost him a strong finish. He lies down in 13th in the overall standings as a result.

Leading the way after his emphatic double win in Portugal is reigning champion Thomas Biagi, driving for BMW Italia. Mercedes drivers Luigi Ferrara and Max Pigoli head the chase. Biagi’s teammates Stefano Gabellini and Alberto Cerqui are also in the fight for honours, as is Andrea Bertolini in the Maserati Quattroporte.

The trip to Donington Park offers the chance for the Jaguar XF, run by the Ferlito Motors team, to race at home for the first time. Driver Francesco Sini will hope to be able to repeat the podium he scored at the season opener at Monza.

The two races are due to begin at 10.40 and 15.40. Tickets can be purchased on the circuit’s website at www.donington-park.co.uk.

After placing third in Saturday’s qualifying session, Biagi got past both Team BMW Italia teammate Alberto Cerqui and Maserati driver Andrea Bertolini in the two races to score a double victory.

“In my career I never won race one and race two before therefore I am extremely happy with adding this result to my palmares,” said Biagi. “They have been two very challenging races both physically, due to the hot temperatures, and mentally as the race pace we kept was very high.

“The key point of race one was probably the good start that allowed me to overtake Bertolini while in race two the 30kg sportive ballast and the pressure from my team mate following me closely required the highest possible concentration in every single lap.”

The result moved Biagi to the head of the drivers’ standings on76 points, ten ahead of nearest rival Luigi Ferrara. The next Superstars round takes place at Misano on 5th June, valid for the Italian championship only.

“These two victories award me with the temporary leadership in the classification of the International Series but also will give me 60kg sportive handicap weight: an awkward mate but also one I will be glad to carry on board in Misano.”

Cerqui started on pole again, but this time the youngster lost the lead to Andrea Bertolini in the Swiss Team Maserati on the opening lap, before losing second to teammate Biagi on lap two. Biagi chased down Bertolini and soon took the lead from the Maserati driver.

Just like in Race 1 Bertolini suffered a tyre problem, this time forcing him out of the race. This left Biagi to win with Cerqui not far behind him. Luigi Ferrara held third in his Caal Racing Mercedes but would eventually be passed by Gabellini to allow the BMW man to complete a double podium lockout for his team.

Max Pigoli (Romeo Ferraris) got past Ferrara on the penultimate lap to finish fourth. Andrea Chiesa finished sixth in his Maserati, with Ferrara’s teammate Riccardo Romagnoli seventh. Andrea Dromedari was eighth in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes ahead of Mauro Cesari in the MRT by Nocentini Chrysler 300C and Sandro Bettini in his Movisport BMW.

Johnny Herbert had been fighting with Gabellini for fifth early on until suffering another puncture, just as he did in Race 1.

Biagi’s double win has moved him to the top of the standings, nine points ahead of Ferrara with Pigoli a further ten points behind. The next Superstars race takes place at Misano on 5^th June, counting for the Italian championship only. The next International Superstars Series round is at Donington Park on 19^th June.

Race results after 15 laps:

Youngster Cerqui led away from pole position, with reigning series champion Biagi taking second place from the Maserati Quattroporte of Swiss Team driver Andrea Bertolini at the start. Meanwhile Johnny Herbert took fourth place away from Gabellini in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes, though the BMW driver would not take long to retake the position.

Up front Biagi took the lead from Cerqui in the middle of the race, and went onto win with a 2.5 second gap over Cerqui. Bertolini was set for third until a tyre failure on the final lap which handed the final podium position to Gabellini.

Bertolini was still able to finish fourth, with Herbert having suffered a puncture himself in the closing stages that forced him to pit. Luigi Ferrara finished fifth in his Caal Racing Mercedes, ahead of what had been an intense battle for seventh, which became sixth when Herbert pitted.

Ferrara’s teammate Riccardo Romagnoli made a good start to move up into seventh at the start, but came under pressure from those behind. Michela Cerruti first tried to find a way through in her Romeo Ferraris Mercedes, but was passed in the meantime by Motorzone Chevrolet driver Fabrizio Armetta. Armetta then got past Romagnoli and went onto finish sixth.

Contact between Cerruti and the Ferlito Motors Jaguar of Francesco Sini saw Sini spin off. Max Pigoli moved up into seventh ahead of Cerruti, while Romagnoli dropped back into the clutches of the second Maserati driver Andrea Chiesa. Chiesa overcame a spin caused by contact with Alex De Giacomi to finish ninth ahead of Romagnoli.

Race results after 15 laps:

The 18-year-old beat Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte driver Andrea Bertolini to the top spot in qualifying by 0.156 seconds.

“I’m really excited,” declared Cerqui afterwards. “I wasn’t expecting a pole position, although I started feeling like I was running really strong since practice.

“Apart from the Maserati, I was also concerned by my two team mates Thomas and Stefano, who proved extremely fast too. Here in Portugal we’re definitely going to be among the main stars on race day.”

The other two factory BMW M3s of Thomas Biagi and Stefano Gabellini ended up third and fourth, three tenths down on Cerqui and separated by just 17 thousandths of a second.

Johnny Herbert was the best of the Mercedes runners in fifth for Romeo Ferraris, just ahead of Caal Racing’s Luigi Ferrara, the standings leader coming into this weekend. Herbert’s teammates Max Pigoli and Michela Cerruti made it a lockout of the third and fourth rows for the three-pointed-star.

Francesco Sini and Fabrizio Armetta got the Ferltio Motors Jaguar XF and Motorzone Chevrolet Lumina both into the top ten.

Qualifying session results:

The Italian got his Swiss Team Quattroporte around the course in a quickest time of 1m51.999. The three Team BMW Italia M3s were next up, with rookie Alberto Cerqui the best of the trio, half a second down on Bertolini. Thomas Biagi was third quickest, with Stefano Gabellini fourth.

Riccardo Romagnoli was the best of the Mercedes entries for Caal Racing in fifth, just ahead of Johnny Herbert of the Romeo Ferraris team. Francesco Sini was seventh in his Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF ahead of Sergio Hernandez of Campos Racing in a BMW. Female racers Francesca Linossi and Michela Cerruti rounded out the top ten in their BMW and Mercedes respectively.

Two free practice sessions will be held on Saturday ahead of the qualifying session, with the two 25 minute plus-one-lap races to be held on Sunday at 10:40 and 15:40 local time.

Test session results:

1. Bertolini (Maserati Quattroporte – Swiss Team) 1:51.999;
2. Cerqui (BMW M3 – Team BMW Italia) 1:52.591;
3. Biagi (BMW M3 – Team BMW Italia) 1:52.865;
4. Gabellini (BMW M3 – Team BMW Italia) 1:53.430;
5. Romagnoli (Mercedes C63 AMG – Caal Racing) 1:54.137;
6. Herbert (Mercedes C63 AMG – Team Romeo Ferraris) 1:54.143;
7. Sini (Jaguar XF SV8 – Ferlito Motors) 1:54.196;
8. Hernandez (BMW M3 – Campos Racing) 1:54.415;
9. Linossi (BMW M3 – Movisport) 1:54.790;
10. Cerruti (Mercedes C63 AMG – Team Romeo Ferraris) 1:54.845.

Full results