Audi Sport Italia Press Release
- 6th place keeps Marco Mapelli and Thomas Schoeffler afloat in Italian GT lead
- 10th place For Dindo Capello, Emanuele Zonzini, pair to start from pole tomorrow
Monza – After sealing a sweep Misano Adriatico, Audis aimed to haul in more points after both qualifying sessions had seen the German cars amid the GT3 elite.
As it is, Italian Gran Turismo leaders Thomas Schoeffler and Marco Mapelli at the end of the opening lap were occupying P8. Unfortunately a spin on lap three had the German driver dropping to eleventh place, a place that stuck 'til the mandatory pit stop. This position ultimately turned into a sixth place due to both the nice comeback race of homeboy Mapelli and mishaps that cluttered the runs of the opposition.
The points that came along this spot allowed the young Italian-German pair to remain in control of the series lead, altough level on points with Nicola Benucci--whose Ferrari finished fourth this afternoon in the hands of Gabriele Lancieri.
Dindo Capello and Emanuele Zonzini, who took the start from the outside pole, early on were entangled in a duel with the Ferrari of Fmr-Audi driver Alex Frassineti (his team mate Piero Necchi eventually sealed off race one win) until lap six: then, at Parabolica corner, the Asti-based driver spun shelving for good their Saturday ambitions. Both 3-time Le Mans winner and former-single seater driver Zonzini were therefore set to stage a rally to make it back into the Top10.
Their target for tomorrow will be way more daring: the young San Marino-based driver claimed his first-ever GT pole position and he looks set to keep his outstanding position all the way, whereas Mapelli--who'll move from row two--will be eager to make a good haul of points in front of his home crowd, and Schoeffler is determined to build on his team mate effort.
Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia
