Photo: ACI Sport

Nicola Baldan wins TCR Italy title as Giacomo Altoè wins at Monza

Nicola Baldan is the new TCR Italy champion, as a consistent race meant the Pit Lane Competizioni driver finished second. Giacomo Altoè won the race after a long fight with Stefano Comini, the Swiss driver losing the second place he had earned on track due to a 5-second penalty for track limits infringements. Altoè had also picked up the same penalty, but he managed to still win the race by little more than one tenth over Baldan.

The race, which was held on a damp track, started under safety car due to poor visibility, but as soon as action started on lap 4 the race was spectacular. Front row starters Altoè and Comini both missed the first chicane, as Baldan was immediately attacked by V-Action’s Luigi Ferrara. The Alfa Romeo managed to pass the SEAT on the back straight, as a little further behind Opel’s Kevin Giacon did the same over Audi’s Max Mugelli, who lost another position on to Jordi Gené on the following lap. Title contender Eric Scalvini was in seventh place after he also managed to pass the yellow Audi RS 3 LMS.

A very spectacular fight between Altoè and Comini was especially entertaining at the front, reaching the climax when the Swiss attacked on lap 7 at the first chicane and missed the braking point, after which he slightly lost contact, enough for Altoè to feel much safer.

Luigi Ferrara suffered from a driveshaft issue on lap 8, which meant he handed third to Baldan who was now third and fighting for the win due to a 5-second penalty given to both Altoè and Comini. Genè protected Baldan by attacking a charging Giacon, the Spanish veteran overtaking the Opel on lap 9 as the Gruppo Piloti Forlivesi youngster missed the chicane.

Altoè won the race ahead of Comini on track, but the Veneto-based teenager just missed to retain his victory by as little as 0.138s over Baldan after the penalties were applied. Comini finished third due to the penalty, with Genè fourth ahead of Giacon.

Eric Scalvini finished sixth ahead of Mugelli, with Davide Nardilli eighth in his MM Motorsport Honda Civic TCR. Massimiliano Gagliano finished ninth in his Pit Lane Competizioni Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR, with Cosimo Barberini completing the top ten in his SEAT.

The final race of the season is scheduled for 17:45 local time.