EXCITEMENT AT MONZA IN THE FERRARI CHALLENGE
Watched by a crowd of around eight thousand, the Ferrari
Challenge weekend at Monza came to a close today. The big
stars of the Italian series were Andrea Belluzzi ( a win and
a second in the Pirelli Trophy) and Benedetto Marti (both
wins in the Shell Cup,) while Philipp Baron in the pro class
and Michael Cantillon in the gentlemen drivers won race 2
of the European series.
Andrea Belluzzi (Motor) was dominant in race 1 of the Italian
series. Having started from pole, the man from San Marino
driving for Motor quickly established a pace his closest pursuers
could not match, so that in a matter of laps he had a lead
of over 6” and that was enough to manage the situation
to the flag. Behind Belluzzi came Giuseppe Ciro (Motor) and
Nicola Gianniberti (Ineco) who both drove steady error-free
races. It was all much closer in the Shell Cup which saw the
win go to an on-form Benedetto Marti, making his debut racing
the 430 Challenge, having started from fourth on the grid
in his category to finish eighth overall. Second was Riccardo
Ragazzi and third went to Massimo Mantovani.
There was no shortage of excitement and spectacle in the
second race of the Italian series. At the end of a very closely
fought contest, Gianniberti came out on top after a long duel
between Sandro Montani and Belluzzi saw the former have to
pull out with a puncture. The San Marino driver therefore
finished second ahead of the young debutant, Marco Mapelli
(Rossocorsa.) In the Shell Cup, the podium was identical to
that in race 1, with Marti the clear leader, able to lap in
times similar to those running in the Trophy. Behind Motor’s
gentleman driver came Ragazzi and Mantovani.
A win for Austria and one for Great Britain in the second
European series race. Both Philipp Baron (Baron Service) in
the Pirelli Trophy and Michael Cantillon (Ferrari UK) transformed
yesterday’s pole position into victory. While the Austrian
was dominant, leading from start to finish, followed home
by Frenchmen Ange Barde and Nicolas Misslin, the Shell Cup
was an altogether more exciting affair. Plamen Kralev (Kessel)
had managed to dispense with Cantillon at the Ascari corner
on lap five and seemed capable of cruising to victory. However,
on the final lap, while trying to pass two cars having their
own battle, the Bulgarian ended up off track and had to retire.
Cantillon made the most of it and clinched the win ahead of
Italy’s Gianluca Carboni (Kessel) and Walter Forer (Rossocorsa/Pellin.)
Results Series Driver Points Driver Points Driver Points
Pirelli Trophy Italy Belluzzi 57 Gianniberti 51 Cirò
41
Shell Cup Italy Marti 61 Ragazzi 52 Mantovani 42
Pirelli Trophy Europe Baron 57 Barde 43 Blancardi 39
Shell Cup Europe Forer 53 Carboni 50 Cantillon 45
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