Sunday, May 4, 2014

EuroV8 Series: The fastest car doesn't win at Vallelunga as Tomas Kostka is hit by drive-through

  Sunday, May 04, 2014      

Audi Sport Italia Press Release
  • Davide Stancheris claims P5 after comeback race one 
  • Ermanno Dionisio to start race two from front row 

Campagnano di Roma – After sweeping the front row on Saturday, Audi Sport Italia drivers looked like the safe bet to win race one at Vallelunga. As it is, the rolling start robbed both pole sitter Tomas Kostka and team mate Davide Stancheris of a chance to post their maiden win here. Only seconds from the green light, Max Mugelli's BMW and Stancheris' Audi made contact while on their way to the Curvone bend. The Bergamo driver emerged nearly unscathed but dropped to the bottom of the standings, whilst Mugelli crashed into the safety barriers. Kostka was questionably deemed responsible of the shunt for having seeked his best line and moved to the left, in spite of not having made contact with any of the drivers involved. The pissed off Czech set the race fastest lap, but on the final lap he also had to slow down due to gearbox trouble and rounded out the Top10.

 Francesco Sini's Camaro inherited the lead from the Zlin, Czech Republic-born driver edging Nicola Baldan's AMG Mercedes. Stancheris recovered a string of spots from the bottom with an opinionated effort that granted him P5 after a last minute overtaking move on Diego Romanini's AMG Mercedes. Ermanno Dionisio--just back in an RS 5 after having skipped the Monza opener--on this wind-swept Sunday morning was saved the trouble that blighted his black box on Saturday, managing to make up a couple of spots and securing a seventh position that will propel to the front row on the reversed grid of race two, as well as the trophy hoisted by the best gentleman-driver. 

Race one: 

 1. F. Sini (Chevrolet) 13 laps
2. N. Baldan (Mercedes) +5.916 
3. N. Mercatali (BMW) +6.986
../..
5. D. STANCHERIS (AUDI) +9.717
7. E. DIONISIO (AUDI) +15.772
10. T. KOSTKA (AUDI) - 1 lap

 Points standings: 

 1. Sini 58 points
2. Cheever 53 pts.
3. Baldan 41 pts.
4. KOSTKA 38 pts.
5. Schiattarella 34 pts.
6. Copetti 33 pts.
6. STANCHERIS 33 pts.

 Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia