Gianni Morbidelli to challenge Vitantonio Liuzzi for Italian crown
Franciacorta will host the closing round of the season for the Superstars Series. The International championship finished in Vallelunga, with Gianni Morbidelli and Audi Sport Italia clinching the title after the first race of the weekend, but the Italian crown is still up for grabs, with Vitantonio Liuzzi currently leading the standings, his Mercedes C63 AMG credited with four points more than Morbidelli.
With 45 points available (including the point awarded for pole position), the title battle is only open to the top two, as BMW’s Giovanni Berton is 46 points shy of the lead and is not going to take part in the Franciacorta event.
Several wild cards and new entries will be present at the track located near Brescia. Despite his race win in Vallelunga, Andrea Larini will not drive the Audi RS 5 in Franciacorta. The car will be handed to the returning Ermanno Dionisio in a revamped livery. The Italian has never driven the RS 5, as he stopped racing at the end of 2011, after which Audi Sport Italia elected to abandon the RS 4 to develop the new model.
BMW Team Dinamic will have an all-new line-up, with Francesca Linossi returning to the Superstars after a brief spell at the wheel of a BMW M3 E92 before moving on to the GT Sprint series. Italian Mini Challenge Nicola Baldan will also be at the wheel of an M3.
Liuzzi will benefit with the presence of his team-mate Thomas Biagi, who may help him should the conditions allow it. However, the twisty nature of the track will naturally tend to play in favour of the Audis and the BMWs.
Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 10.40 and will last 30 minutes.
