Max Pigoli converted his pole position into a race victory in the opening round of the International Superstars Series season at Monza. He led home a Mercedes C63 AMG 1-2-3, as Michela Cerruti finished second with Luigi Ferrara moving up through the grid to finish third.
Pigoli kept his lead from pole position, with Romeo Ferraris teammate Cerruti moving from third on the grid into second past the Swiss Team Maserati Quattroporte of Andrea Bertolini. Francesco Sini moved up into fourth in the Jaguar ahead of the BMW of Thomas Biagi.
Ferrara, who lined up 16th on the grid after suffering engine problems in qualifying, had moved up to sixth by the end of the first lap, ahead of the Mercedes of Johnny Herbert. Ferrara soon passed Biagi and Sini, who gradually dropped back in his Jaguar, before suffering electrical issues.
Bertolini was forced into the pits in the Maserati due to a loss of tyre pressure. This elevated Ferrara into third position, where he would finish behind Pigoli and Cerruti.
Biagi finished fourth, ahead of BMW Italia teammates Alberto Cerqui, finishing fifth on his series debut, and Stefano Gabellini. Fabrizio Armetta finished seventh in the Motorzone Chevrolet, ahead of Mercedes driver Riccardo Romagnoli. Roberto Benedetti took advantage of attrition to finish ninth, one place ahead of Herbert who dropped back with technical issues on the last lap.
|
