Audi drivers dominate in TCR Italy’s season opener
The first races of TCR Italy’s season at Misano were dominated by the drivers at the wheel of Audi cars.
PMA Motorsport’s reigning champion Nicolas Taylor won Saturday’s race ahead of three other Audi cars of Matteo Poloni, Pietro Alessi and Nicola Baldan. The latter then was victorious in Race 2 for Aikoa Racing, with Alessi claiming another third position.
Michele Imberti was the only driver capable to disrupt the domination of the German cars. He placed fourth in Race 1 with his Kombat Motorsport Hyundai Elantra N and was a close runner-up behind Baldan in Race 2.
Despite a penalty in the second race, Taylor has taken an early lead in the standings, four points ahead of Baldan, while Imberti lies third, four further points adrift.
Race 1 – Taylor and Alex Ley shared the front row of the grid, behind them the Hyundai Elantra cars of Gabriele Covini and Imberti stalled at the start from the second row.
Up front, Taylor, who was leading from Ley and Poloni, to pulled away. In lap 2, Poloni overtook Ley who was passed by Denis Babuin, Baldan and Alessi. Eventually Ley retired in lap 9 with a front flat tyre, while Alessi passed Baldan for P4.
With Taylor and Poloni running comfortably in first and second, a thrilling battle developed for P3 between Babuin, Alessi and Baldan. Babuin keept his rivals at bay until the end but was demoted to six by a ten-second penalty for jump start, which elevated Alessi to his maiden podium.
Race 2 – Baldan had the pole on the top eight reversed grid, with Babuin alongside; they both started well, although Poloni was able to squeeze in second place. Taylor and Ley made contact and the Briton dropped a few places, while Imberti overtook Babuin for P3. Baldan pulled away, while Imberti put the pressure on Poloni and overtook him in lap 8. Further behind, a group of seven drivers was fighting for P4, positions and paints were swapped until Alessi and Taylor emerged. The pair got past Poloni and continued fighting, while Imberti had closed the gap to Baldan who won by four tenths. Alessi beat Taylor for the third place, but the Canadian was dropped to fifth behind Babuin by a five-second penalty for the incident with Ley.
DSG – Eric Brigliadori and his SF Squadra Corse, CUPRA were in a class of their own and took authoritative victories in both races. Brigliadori’s teammate Federico Danova and Gustavo Sandrucci (Casals Motorsport, Audi) completed the podium in Race 1.
In the second race, Mattia Lancellotti (Planet Motorsport, Audi) finished second, while the battle for third was won by Matteo Roccadelli (RPM Motorsport, CUPRA).
Both championships will resume at Vallelunga on 23/25 May.
Race 1
- Nicolas Taylor (PMA Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 18 laps
- Matteo Poloni (Gear Worls RaceLab, Audi RS 3 LMS), 6.174
- Pietro Alessi (BF Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 10.418
Race 2
- Nicola Baldan (Aikoa Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 18 laps
- Michele Imberti (Kombat Motorsport, Hyundai Elantra N), 0.483
- Pietro Alessi (BF Motorsport, Audi RS 3 LMS), 11.634
Championship points - SEQ
- N. Taylor, 79 pts; 2. N. Baldan, 75; 3. M. Imberti 71, 33
Championship points - DSG
- E. Brigliadori, 95 pts; 2. M. Lancellotti, 73; 3. C. Fedeli, 54
Picture: ACI Sport
