For a one-off event Portugal’s Filipe Albuquerque took over Dindo Capello into Audi Sport Italia’s R8 LMS cockpit, as the 3-time Le Mans winner had his hand full at Road Atlanta on the same weekend. It turned out that the young single-seater driver on his debut GT race could not even take the wheel for Race 1, since on Saturday his team mate was beached into the gravel trap at the Luco-Poggio Secco esses in a Lap 1 melee.
On Sunday Albuquerque started fifth and had to make do with poor handling throughout his stint, giving back the car to Sanna on the same place. Sanna moved up one spot when the Lamborghini then on third place retired, but on the final lap he had to limp to the chequered flag with the front end of the car crippled by an apparent puncture. As it turned out, a lower front left wishbone had collapsed, which may well explain the handling problems both drivers had previously reported during their stints. Nonetheless Sanna claimed a meager fifth place, relinquishing fourth to a Kessel Racing’s Ferrari. The Swiss team also clinched Sunday’s GT3 win with series’ leaders Livio and Bontempelli, whilst Saturday belonged to reigning champs Grassotto and Piccini’s Lamborghini.
Mugello, Italy, September 26, 2009
Italian GT Championship Round 11:
1. Matteo Grassotto-Giacomo Piccini (Lamborghini) 23 laps 50m34.754 avg speed 143.104 kph
2. S. Livio-L.Bontempelli (Ferrari) + 52.081
3. G.Berton-M.Cressoni (Lamborghini) + 1:04.737
4. S.Earle-F.LaMazza (Ferrari) + 1 lap
Rtd FILIPE ALBUQUERQUE-GIORGIO SANNA (AUDI R8 LMS)
Mugello, Italy, September 27, 2009
Italian GT Championship Round 12:
1. Stefano Livio-Lorenzo Bontempelli (Ferrari) laps – 51m47.079 avg speed 145.850 kph
2. M.Grassotto-G.Piccini (Lamborghini) + 0.489
3. S.Borghi-G.De Lorenzi (Porsche) + 11.446
4. A.Salucci-A. Ceccato (Ferrari) + 31.238
5. FILIPE ALBUQUERQUE-GIORGIO SANNA (AUDI R8 LMS) + 1:02.851
Drivers’ points standings after 12 of 14 rounds:
1. Livio-Bontempelli 122 points
3. De Lorenzi-Borghi 114 pts.
5. Grassotto 107 pts.
6. SANNA 91 pts.
7. CAPELLO 85 pts.
8. Baso 80 pts.
9. Earle-LaMazza 68 pts.
Next event: Monza, October 17-18, 2009
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