A pair of Italian female racers who raced as teammates in the Italian GT Championship last season will do battle against each other on the Superstars Series grid in 2011.
Francesca Linossi will join the touring car series driving a BMW M3 E92 for the Movisport team. After enjoying a successful test with the team at Franciacorta the 19-year-old will line up on the grid for the opening race of the season at Monza on 9-10 April.
Also on the grid at Monza will be Michela Cerruti, driving a Mercedes C63 AMG for the Romeo Ferraris team. The 24-year-old joined Superstars at the beginning of last season, and scored points finishes on two occasions.
Linossi and Cerruti raced together as teammates in the Italian GT Championship as well last season, the pair scoring a podium finish at Vallelunga aboard their Ferrari F430. In 2011 they will race against each other, as well as against top-name drivers such as champion Thomas Biagi.
Linossi's father Luciano competed in Superstars last season, racing in two rounds of the championship behind the wheel of the Ferlito Motors Jaguar XF.
Francesca is looking forward to getting underway. “I don’t feel under pressure for having to battle with my former team-mate,” she said. “I hope to be fast right from the start, even though I have a lot to learn and the Superstars Series features some really experienced drivers. Unfortunately, I won’t be at next week’s test in Vallelunga, since the car is still being developed, but I’ll join the pack at Monza.”
Cerruti explained that the arrival of Linossi in the series will give her something extra to aim for during her second season in Superstars. “I’m really happy to have Francesca racing in the same championship as me,” Cerruti said. “It’ll be an additional challenge to keep being the top lady in Superstars Series. My goal for the season is to be much faster and even more competitive than in the past.”
