Photo: Superstars Media

Kristoffersson wins 2012 title as both contenders crash out

By

Johan Kristoffersson has won the 2012 Superstars International Series whilst Raffaele Giammaria won the final race at Pergusa. Kristoffersson was taken out on the opening lap, though Liuzzi was also eliminated later on by Andrea Larini.

At the start Mauro Cesari’s Maserati held the lead whilst Andrea Bacci made a great getaway to later move his Mercedes into first place. Further on the lap however, there was a big shunt at the Schumacher chicane, after Nico Caldarola missed his braking point and slammed into Kristoffersson’s Audi, which ended up into the wall with severe damage. The safety car was deployed with two Mercedes cars leading, with Ferrara ahead of Giammaria and Liuzzi up into third, as Bacci retired with a technical problem.

Soon after the restart, Giammaria passed fellow Mercedes driver Ferrara, but conceded the position as the notice appeared indicating he was under investigation for cutting the chicane. Giammaria was soon able to retake the lead again from Ferrara, meanwhile Liuzzi was now holding on to third ahead of Simone Iacone’s Chevrolet Lumina and the Mercedes of Andrea Larini. Iacone was later passed by the Mercedes driver.

Incredibly, with three laps to go, the fight for third produced another accident as Andrea Larini spun at Proserpina after trying to attack his fellow Mercedes driver Liuzzi, who could couldn’t help collecting him. Liuzzi’s Mercedes C63 AMG was able to restart but was forced to pit due to the damage. The retirement handed the championship to Kristoffersson by a mere four points.

The incident promoted Iacone’s Chevrolet up to third and BMW Team Dinamic’s Thomas Biagi to fourth. More drama was to come as Iacone and Biagi made contact on the last lap, with the Chevrolet still able to keep third and Biagi fourth ahead of Christian Fittipaldi’s Swiss Team Maserati

Giammaria took the second win of the day, making an impressive Superstars debut, but the star of the day is newly-crowned champion Johan Kristoffersson, who wins the Italian and the International crown, as well as the Rookie championship.

The teams’ title goes to BMW Team Dinamic ahead of CAAL Racing and Audi Sport KMS.