Photo: PSP Images

First win for Morbidelli ahead of storming Kristoffersson

By

Gianni Morbidelli dominated the first Donington race from lights to flag, claiming his first win of the year. Johan Kristoffersson made a stunning recovery from the back of the grid to second, while home hero Johnny Herbert completed the podium for Maserati.

Thomas Schöffler, who was supposed to start from second, had to start from the pitlane due to a technical problem. Morbidelli had a great getaway, with the two Jaguars of Tom Onslow-Cole and Max Pigoli following him closely. A close battle started straight away for second as Morbidelli opened a gap immediately, with Pigoli, Onslow-Cole, Vitantonio Liuzzi, Johnny Herbert and Thomas Biagi fighting closely for second.

On lap five, however, Kristoffersson had already made up for his disadvantage and was up to seventh: The Swede passed Biagi, who elected to let the Audi through on the same lap after trying to defend, to avoid losing ground from those in front of him. On the following lap Kristoffersson got rid of Herbert and Liuzzi, and only had to wait another lap to pass Onslow-Cole and Pigoli for second.

On lap eight, as Andrea Boffo was handed a black/orange flag for a front bumper problem, Onslow-Cole made a mistake and miraculously kept his Jaguar on track; However, the Brit lost ground and slipped down to seventh, and eventually had to retire due to technical problems.

On lap nine Herbert passed Liuzzi and started chasing Pigoli, who was in third and had tyre problems. A thrilling battle saw the Jaguar driver eventually make a mistake and the group of three cars who was following him passed him, with Herbert going up to third ahead of Biagi and Liuzzi. The Brit and the Mercedes driver had made contact earlier as Herbert was trying to pass Pigoli, and his Mercedes C63 AMG sustained right front damage from the touch.

Pigoli eventually slipped down to ninth, allowing Thomas Schöffler, Stefano Gabellini and Andrea Larini through.

Andrea Larini will start from pole for race two and will share the front row with Gabellini due to the reverse grid.