Superstars Series of 2013 starts at Monza this weekend

The Superstars Series of 2013 is set to kick off this weekend at Monza, Italy. The championship, which runs its tenth edition, will see nine brands fielding thirteen different models.

The famous layout of Monza, the “temple of speed”, should play in favour of the cars equipped with the most powerful engines, which includes the Mercedes C63 AMG, the Chevrolet Camaro, the renewed Cadillac CTS-V and the Jaguar XFR.

Team Mercedes-AMG Romeo Ferraris will show up with a very strong driver line-up, with the two works cars being driven by 2012 runner-up Vitantonio Liuzzi and 2010 Champion Thomas Biagi. Team Audi Sport Italia will run three cars, with Gianni Morbidelli and Thomas Schoeffler being partnered by Ferdinando Geri, as the 2012 champion Johan Kristoffersson has moved to Petri Corse and will drive an updated Porsche Panamera S alongside touring car expert Massimiliano Fantini.

BMW Team Dinamic will field three BMW M3 E92s, keeping Giovanni Berton in the team after the Italian impressed the paddock in his outings in the late part of the 2012 season. Berton will be partnered by Max Mugelli and Mauro Trentin.

CAAL Racing will field two Mercedes C63s, driven by Andrea Bacci and Leonardo Baccarelli, while the powerful Jaguar XFRs prepared by Ferlito Motors will see Andrea Larini behind the wheel.

Hot topic in in the season premiere will be the new Chevrolet Camaro fielded by Solaris Motorsport, with series veteran Francesco Sini, who topped the first official test session of the year at Monza. Much is expected from the Mercedes C63 AMG Coupè, which will be driven by Luigi Ferrara and prepared by Roma Racing Team, as former driver Nico Caldarola has stepped down from driving to a managerial role. A big question mark is the renewed Cadillac CTS-V run by RC Motorsport and driven by Roberto Benedetti. The powerful engine of the car and its revised details may make the American car more competitive than it has been over the past few years.

The first Free Practice session will be held at 9.40 CET on Saturday, with qualifying starting at 18.40 and will last for thirty minutes. The two races, with the usual format of 25 minutes plus one lap, will be held at 12.00 and 16.10 CET on Sunday.