The second race at Imola saw the same winners as Race 1, with Fernando Monje winning ahead of Igor Skuz and European Champion Stian Paulsen.
Nikolay Karamyshev won the Super Production class, while Paolo Necchi’s superb race finished with a fantastic double win on his home track. The Italian had to start from the pitlane after a technical problem with his Ford Fiesta, forcing him into a spectacular climb up the order to take his second win of the day.
At the start, due to the reverse grid, Aytaç Byter started from pole and had a good getaway from the line, whereas Fernando Monje slipped down the order. Drama was to come even before the first corner, as Peter Rikli was sent into a spin by Andreas Pfister and crashed into the barriers, escaping unhurt. Petr Fulín immediately started attacking and passed his fellow BMW driver at Variante Alta.
Monje meanwhile started climbing up from the middle of the pack and finished the first lap in sixth, quickly getting rid of Fischer at Tosa and Pfister at Piratella. A mistake by Byter at Rivazza enabled Paulsen, Skuz and Monje to pass him, the Spaniard quick to overtake the other two as well and start chasing Fulìn.
On the fourth lap Monje managed to pass Fulín, who retired on the same lap parking his BMW 320si E90 into his garage.
Three laps later Andreas Pfister was given a drive through, and so did Byter. Meanwhile Necchi passed Krammes and went on to challenge Wilson Borgnino’s lead, the Chevrolet Aveo driver appearing to be slower than home hero Necchi.
After a spectacular attack at Tamburello, with the Ford getting sideways as Necchi tried to pass Borgnino, the Ravenol Team driver finally completed his overtake on the Argentinean on the tenth lap.
No more drama was to come, as Fernando Monje claimed his sixth win of the year ahead of team-mate Igor Skuz. Stian Paulsen, who won the Single Make Trophy class, completed a Seat 1-2-3, while Honda’s Christian Fischer finished the race in fourth outright, third in the S2000 class.
Fernando Monje adds his name to the FIA European Touring Car Cup hall of fame, which includes the likes of Fabrizio Giovanardi, James Thompson, Michael Nykjaer, Ryan Sharp and Richard Göransson.
