Igor Stefanovski takes lights to flag win in final Vallelunga race

Igor Stefanovski claimed a lights to flag win in the second TCR Italy championship race at Vallelunga. The Macedonian driver had a calm race in the lead while the fight behind him was tough.

Disaster struck on the opening lap for Scuderia del Girasole Cupra Racing drivers Simone Pellegrinelli and Salvatore Tavano, making contact in the second corner.

Pellegrinelli, who made a slow start from second on the grid, was able to continue while Tavano was left stranded in the gravel.

There was further contact in the opening stages as Honda driver Alessandro Giardelli and Hyundai driver Felice Jelmini clashed. The contact resulted in a broken rear suspension for Jelmini who spun and retired.

Yesterday’s winner Eric Brigliadori made strong progress from eighth on the grid, reaching fifth position by lap three.

The BF Motorsport driver then attacked Giardelli for fourth position but braked too late and struck Max Mugelli.

Mugelli spun and dropped down to tenth position, later retiring from the race due to a puncture.

Brigliadori dropped one spot down to fifth behind Target Competition driver Marco Pellegrini.

The Audi RS 3 LMS driver fought his way back past Pellegrini for fourth position on lap eight and snatched third from MM Motorsport driver Jacopo Guidetti three laps later.

But Brigliadori was penalised for the incident with Mugelli, dropping him down to tenth position.

Stefanovski won the race five seconds ahead of Giardelli and 14 seconds ahead of Guidetti.

Hyundai i30 N TCR driver Pellegrini finished fourth ahead of CRM Motorsport driver Ettore Carminati. Cupra DSG driver Michele Imberti rounded off the top six, 23 seconds behind Stefanovski.

Brigliadori heads the standings on 114 points, four points more than Tavano and six points more than Pellegrini.

The next TCR Italy round takes place at Monza on November 7-8.