Denis Babuin wins eventful opening race at Monza
Planet Motorsport’s Denis Babuin achieved his first victory of the season in Saturday’s opening TCR Italy race at Monza, under difficult conditions and with two safety car interruptions.
The field faced high heat conditions, with track temperature at 54ºC before the start of the formation lap, and with concerns about tyre degradation and duration in these conditions.
Carlo Alberto Bocca faltered at the start from pole position, with fellow Audi driver Paolo Rocca trying to seize the opportunity on the inside but the pair would be forced to retire with damage after coming together.
The incident would be later investigated by the stewards.
The safety car was called into action as Babuin led in his Audi, ahead of Matteo Poloni and Ramiro Zago. Francesco Cardone made the most of the opening lap incidents to climb up to fourth position, ahead of Cupra driver Sandro Pelatti.
The race went green again on lap four, with Babuin remaining ahead despite Poloni’s attacks, with Zago and Cardone right behind.
The leading quartet opened a small gap over fifth-placed Pelatti, who was busy defending from Hyundai driver Michele Imberti, with the Cupra of Petr Cizek on tow.
As the track temperatures continued rising, the field focused on lasting the race, with the positions remaining stable and Babuin.
The safety car was called into action a second time as Cardone attempted to overtake Zago at Turn 1, colliding with the Honda and remaining stuck on the inside of the chicane.
The race was relaunched on lap ten and with enough time for two racing laps, with Poloni attacking Babuin, who held the inside at Turn 1. Pelatti also went long at the first corner to overtake Zago and take third place.
Poloni attacked on the outside at Turn 1 on the final lap, with Babuin outbraking himself under pressure and Poloni taking the lead. Zago also overtook Pelatti to recover third position.
But disaster struck for Poloni, with the Italian losing power after Ascari on the last lap and dropping to eighth place.
Babuin won at the chequered flag, with Zago and Pelatti completing the podium. Imberti was fourth ahead of Cizek.
Raffaele Gurrieri finished sixth, ahead of fellow Cupra driver Nicola Guida and Poloni. Audi drivers Ramazan Kaya and Francesco Miotto completed the top ten.
“It was an eventful race, but we’ve finally got our first victory!” Babuin said after the race. “We started quite well, although I went long in the first corner, but managed to stay ahead.”
After Saturday’s Race 1, Imberti remains in the championship lead with 204 points, 22 ahead of Zago and 47 over Poloni.
The TCR Italy field returns to the track on Sunday morning for Race 2 at 10:25 CEST.
