Laurens Vanthoor lets Morbidelli through for second win at Zolder

Gianni Morbidelli led another Audi Sport Italia 1-2 at Zolder in race two, as Laurens Vanthoor let his team-mate through just on the finish line. A consistent Raffaele Giammaria completed the podium for CAAL Racing in his Mercedes C63 AMG.

Francesco Sini was forced to miss the race due to extensive damage to his Chevrolet Camaro after an accident in Race 1.

At the start, Caal Racing’s Raffaele Giammaria was quick to jump up from third take the lead away from Giovanni Berton’s BMW and Fabrizio Giovanardi’s Porsche Panamera. Meanwhile Vitantonio Liuzzi made a mistake and went wide into the gravel at the first corner, but was able to continue the race in his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes.

As Audi’s Laurens Vanthoor carved his way through the field, Petri Corse’s Fabrizio Giovanardi overtook Berton for second in a thrilling move. However on lap four, as Vanthoor took the lead away from Giammaria, the Porsche suddenly dropped down the order to eighth and the sister car of Nicola Larini retrired due to a technical problem.

Meanwhile Ferrara and Morbidelli were also moving up the field, passing the BMWs of Renaud Kuppens and Giovanni Berton. The two continued to duel for third, which saw Ferrara jump the kerbs and break a driveshaft. The Italian had no choice but to retire his Mercedes C63 AMG Coupé.

As the race went on, Biagi overtook Schiattarella’s Chevrolet Lumina, and the Chevrolet driver started a spectacular fight with Fabrizio Giovanardi and Vitantonio Liuzzi. The Lumina was struggling with the rear tyres, and Schiattarella was trying to control the oversteer of his car in a spectacular fashion. On lap ten, however, the former Formula 1 driver had to surrender eighth place to Giovanardi as he spun under braking.

Morbidelli overtook Giammaria on lap 11, and the Romeo Ferraris Mercedes duo of Biagi and Liuzzi overtook Berton, but the former Scuderio Toro Rosso F1 driver made a mistake and went wide off the track, allowing Berton to take his the position back on lap 14, with Giovanardi now right behind the Mercedes.

More drama was to come as on the finish line Vanthoor let Morbidelli through to win the race. A delighted Raffaele Giammaria completed the podium, while Thomas Biagi overtook Renaud Kuppens in the closing stages of the race to take fourth from the Scuderia Giudici BMW. Giovanni Berton finished in a strong sixth ahead of Liuzzi. Giovanardi managed a decent eighth ahead of Mauro Trentin’s BMW M3 E92 and Domenico Schiattarella, who completed the top ten.

Biagi extended his championship lead to 23 points over double winner Gianni Morbidelli, now in second in his Audi RS 5 with 96 points. Berton is now ahead of Liuzzi in the championship, as the two are on 91 and 90 points respectively, while Luigi Ferrara is a little further back on 71 points.

Next up for the Superstars Series is Portimao, next month on July 21st.