Superstars

Morbidelli Wins Twice For Audi In The Spa Rain

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Gianni Morbidelli - Photo Credit: Superstars Media

Gianni Morbidelli claimed his second double victory of the 2012 International Superstars Series season after dominating proceedings in his Audi RS5 at a soaked Spa-Francorchamps.

The Italian veteran, who had earlier in the year won both races at Donington Park, used the four-wheel-drive system in his Audi Sport Italia-run car to his advantage and claim maximum points.

After starting from pole position, he comfortably led fellow Audi driver Johan Kristoffersson to victory in Race 1, even if the Swede closed to within 1.269 seconds on the final lap by setting a fastest lap more than three seconds faster than anyone else had gone.

Points leader Vitantonio Liuzzi was the best of the rest, holding on to third place in his CAAL Racing Mercedes, finishing more than 12 seconds behind the Audis after nine laps.

He was followed home by his teammate and 2011 series runner-up Luigi Ferrara, making his first appearance of the year. Mika Salo crossed the line behind the two Mercedes in his Maserati Quattroporte.

Camilo Zurcher was sixth in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes after keeping the third Audi of German youngster Thomas Schoffler behind. Zurcher's teammate Andrea Larini was eighth, ahead of the BMWs of Stefano Gabellini and Thomas Biagi – the latter spinning off out of seventh at Les Combes on lap four.

Morbidelli started the second race from eighth on the reverse grid but didn't let that stop him. He was up to second by the end of the first lap and then passed pole-sitter Larini on lap two. He then drove away to a 12 second win.

Liuzzi also battled his way up the order, taking second from Larini on lap six. Salo took third on the same lap and followed Liuzzi home to record his first Superstars podium.

Schoffler started third but dropped to fifth on the first lap, and although he got past Larini to take fourth he dropped back to seventh on the last lap, behind Biagi, Gabellini and Ferrara. Ferrara was subsequently penalised 25 seconds for not observing track limits and dropped to 11th. Larini failed to finish, as did Kristoffersson.

British Touring Car racer Jeff Smith was 13th in the first race, but improved to seventh in the second encounter, finishing ahead of Nico Caldarola and the Jaguar pairing of Max Pigoli and Domenico Ferlito.

Liuzzi leads Kristoffersson by 19 points, with Biagi a further three behind. The next round was due to be held on the Algarve on 16 September, but that has been postponed until 2013 due to the economic situation. A replacement will be announced soon for the same date.

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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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