Gianni Morbidelli dodges the traps of the fastest track in Superstars

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

Gianni Morbidelli dodges the traps of the fastest track in the Superstars schedule to grab 4th place in the championship table

Audi Sport Italia-built RS 5 turns out best car in Monza opener--beyond clean-sweeping AMG Mercedeses...

Audi Sport Italia's quattros haven't claimed a win at ultra-quick Monza since 2008, when the SWR-run Superstars was still a fledging series. The kick-off to the 10th running of the increasingly popular V8 championship may not have stopped the win drought, but the superb form shown by 4-time champ Gianni Morbidelli and the winter work carried out by Emilio Radaelli's outfit on the RS 5 helped the No. 45 Audi to hit its stride sooner than anyone expected, posting two 4th places that were the best effort put in by any driver-car pairing--but the bulky AMG Mercedeses of team mates Tonio Liuzzi and Thomas Biagi (who split wins today) and Gigi Ferrara, that sweeped podium spots and all sit ahead of Morbidelli in the table after Monza.

A 16-car field greeted a healthy crowd that convened at the 5,793-meter historic venue in spite of gray skies and local traffic restricitions. At the start Morbidelli could not fend off the charge from Andrea Bacci's Mercedes and Francesco Sini's Camaro and was shuffled down the order from his P4 starting spot, but the former F.1 driver did not lose track of them on the opening lap and started breathing down on their necks. When the duelling duo wound up embroiling itself at the Ascari corner on lap 3 the RS 5 leapfrogged both claiming P5. Then Morbidelli set up a chase to Jaguar’s Andrea Larini, managing to claim P4 from the Tuscan driver on lap 7. Arather uneventful spell was in store for Morbidelli, as the AMG Mercedes threesome on top had built a comfortable 12-second cushion on the lone 4WD surviving car, which could not threaten the Swabian sweep, led by pole sitter Tonio Liuzzi in front of team mate Thomas Biagi and Gigi Ferrara—at the wheel of the sole three-pointed-star coupe.
Ferdinando Geri's maiden race in the four-ring camp was not as lucky as the Rome-born driver had just the time to acclimatise to a entertaining dogfight with fellow gentlemen drivers Francesco Ascani and Gianni Giudici that an engine problem forced him to reach the pit lane at the half-race mark. 

Morbidelli started from the inside of row 3 on the reversed grid of Race 2 and was stuck in a chaotic start, dropping to 10th place on Lap 1, as the Top4 was an all AMG Mercedes-affair. It took just five laps to the Camozzi-liveried Audi to bite the tail of Francesco Sini, then the best non-Mercedes driver and the former F.1 driver successfully dived on the inside of the Solaris Camaro at Lesmo corner to take over from Sini as best of the rest. But Morbidelli did not think that he could call it a day on P5 and chased hard Andrea Bacci's C63. The warring duo ran nose-to-tail around the mid-race mark, then on lap eleven, Morbidelli dived inside the CAAL-built C63 when Bacci let him the door open, swiping the rival. Morbidelli went safe home in P4, but there was more drama in store for Audi Sport Italia, as Geri's car after having battled to sneak into the Top10 had to reach the pit lane early, with two laps to go due to a contact that triggered bodywork trouble. None the less, Geri had put in quicker laps on Sunday than on Saturday, showing that his driving has a fair amount of room for more improvement, something that he'll be keen to confirm at Brno in mid-May.

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES

Sunday April 7, 2013. 

Round 1 - Monza, Italy:
1. Tonio Liuzzi (AMG Mercedes) 14 laps, 27:05.042s, average speed 179.7 kph
2. Thomas Biagi (AMG Mercedes) +0.589s
3. Gigi Ferrara (AMG Mercedes) +13.639s
4. GIANNI MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS 5) +23.200s
5. Francesco Sini (Chevrolet) +34.423s

../..
Rtd. FERDINANDO GERI (AUDI RS5) - 7 laps.

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES

Sunday April 7, 2013.

Round 2- Monza, Italy:

1. Thomas Biagi (AMG Mercedes) 14 laps, 27:13.157, average speed 178.8 kph
2. Tonio Liuzzi (AMG Mercedes) + 2.277s
3. Gigi Ferrara (AMG Mercedes) + 5.930s
4. GIANNI MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS 5) + 17.287s
5. Andrea Bacci (AMG Mercedes) + 20.791s

../..
13. FERDINANDO GERI (AUDI RS5) - 2 laps.

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2013

Drivers points standings after 2 rounds:

a

1. Liuzzi 42 points;
2. Biagi 39 pts.;
3. Ferrara 28 pts.;
4. MORBIDELLI 24 pts.;
5. Bacci 20 pts.;
6. Sini 16 pts.;
7. Berton 8 pts.;
8. Ascani and "Diabolik" 6 pts.;
10. Benedetti 5 pts.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

Superstars: Good points scored for Audi Sport Italia at Monza

By Johan Laubscher

The second Superstars race at Monza had a similar result as the first. The Mercedes-Benz teams continued to dominate at the front, with the rest of the field following in their wake.

Monza has always been a track which favoured very powerful and high speed cars. For the Audi Sport Italia RS 5 cars Monza is a track which provides a challenge. The RS 5 cars with quattro are very fast through the corners and under braking, however they are at a disadvantage when it comes to outright top speed, in comparison to the opposition.

The Mercedes-Benz cars were expected to run away at the front, however Audi Sport Italia performed well this weekend. The team’s number one driver, Gianni Morbidelli, was able to finish fourth in race one. Starting from fifth on the reverse grid, Morbidelli was again able to perform well and achieved another fourth place finish. A good consolidating points score at a track like Monza. His teammate, Ferdinando Geri, unfortunately retired from race two.

The Audi RS 5 cars are expected to be back in their element at the next round of the championship, held at Brno in mid May. As Gianni Morbidelli (@MorbidelliG) said on twitter: “Mercedes' drivers sweeped podium places at Monza but I can't wait to fire up my engine at Brno nxt mth. You'll listen a different tune there”. 

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

Superstars: Fourth place for Gianni Morbidelli and Audi Sport Italia in race 1 at Monza

By Tarek Ramchani

The first race of the 2013 International Superstars Series has just finished at Monza. Two Audi RS 5 quattro cars from Audi Sport Italia took part. Gianni Morbidelli finished in a positive fourth and his team mate Ferdinando Geri in fifteenth.

In front the dominant AMG squad was untouchable, the C63 cars took full advantage of their power and let the rivals way behind. Gianni Morbidelli who qualified in fourth yesterday with his #45 Audi RS5 quattro was only able to follow and take vital points. The Italian star lost several places in the rolling start, but managed to recover later. Morbidelli had a great battle with the Jaguar XF of Nicolas Larini, after many laps of resisting Larni lost the position. A fourth is not that bad as Monza is clearly not a circuit for the Audi Sport Italia built cars. It was a harder race for Ferdinando Geri, after a difficult Saturday he finished way behind in a disappointing fifteenth. Race victory went to Vitantonio Liuzzi with his Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG, in second Thomas Biaggi and in third Luigi Ferrara.

Race 2 is next with a reverse grid for the top 8 finishers in race 1. Gianni Morbidelli will start from fifth. Fingers crossed for both Audi drivers.

Photo credit: Superstars Series

Superstars: Good qualifying for Gianni Morbidelli and Audi Sport Italia at Monza

By Tarek Ramchani

Monza is hosting the first round of the International Superstars Series  this weekend. Only two Audi RS5 quattro cars have entered the event, two cars from Audi Sport Italia. Unfortunately the #47 RS5 of Thomas Thomas Schöffler from Audi Sport MTM is not taking part in the race weekend.

Action started today with two free practice sessions and qualifying. It was a very good day for Audi Sport Italia top driver Gianni Morbidelli. The four time Superstars Series champion topped the first wet free practice session and finished eighth in the second one with the #45 Audi. His team mate Ferdinando Geri was twelfth and eighteenth with the sister #46 RS5. In the qualifying session Gianni Morbidelli ended in a very positive fourth place, with a time of 1:56.013. The Italian touring car ace was the best of the rest, behind a dominant trio of  Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG cars driven by Vitantonio Liuzzi, Thomas Biagi and Luigi Ferrara. Ferdinando Geri with the other Audi car had a harder session and was only able to take the seventeenth position.

The Audi RS5 quattro was the 2012 series champion, however its strength has never been its top speed. At a very fast track like Monza this somewhat hinders the Audi cars, but we hope that Gianni Morbidelli and his team mate will be able to fight and take maximum points in the two races tomorrow.

Photo credit: Audi Sport Italia

Audi Sport Italia and Gianni Morbidelli back to Superstars Series

By Tarek Ramchani

The Audi RS 5 quattro had a winning debut in the Superstars Series last year. Three cars were entered by three different teams. It was a great season with the championship title in the end for Johan Kristoffersson.


The first team to confirm their return in 2013 is Audi Sport Italia. A single RS 5 quattro so far for Gianni Morbidelli, an Audi regular who is returning with the team, and this time he wants to win the overall title. Gianni Morbidelli is of course a four-time Superstars Series champion, two of them with Audi Sport Italia and the Audi RS 4 quattro. Last season he won four races with double victories at both Donignton Park and Spa-Francorchamps, he finished fourth in the final points standings.

Morbidelli is very confident about the upcoming 2013 season: "Being back for a new season in SUPERSTARS is always exciting - told Morbidelli - I'm more motivated than ever in fighting back to the top. Sure it's going to be a tough season, with many fierce - and quick - competitors. My team already displayed their class. Unfortunately, several unlucky breaks prevented us from fighting for the title in the late part of 2012 but, in the end, that's racing. You win, you lose, you try to put the puzzle together. And this season, I hope to put the winning piece…". Quote from superstarsworld.com

The Superstars Series field is continuing to grow each season. Last year Audi KMS won the title in a very dramatic way, on the very last lap of the last race against Mercedes AMG. We hope that Gianni Morbidelli and Audi Sport Italia will be among the teams fighting for the title. The RS 5 quattro clearly proved to be one of the best cars in the field.

Photo credit: Superstars Series

2013 International Superstars Series calendar

By Tarek Ramchani

Audi dominated the International Superstars Series this year with the brand new Audi RS 5 quattro from Audi Sport Italia. Three cars were entered and run by three different teams. In the end, Johan Kristoffersson was crowned the series champion at the season finale held at Pergusa with his KMS run machine.

The series saw very impressive growth during the last couple of years with some great names and brands joining, many with factory supported efforts. Now the series has just unveiled its 2013 calendar, with eight rounds planned. While strongly being an Italian based touring car championship, the series will visit no less than five European countries. The season will kick off, as usual, at Monza. The finale is yet to be announced and will be at an Italian circuit. For 2013 the International Superstars will be joined by its sister GT Sprint Championship, wherein the Audi R8 LMS ultra did very well with Audi Sport Italia during the final round.

Audi Sport Italia, the team behind the RS 5 quattro project, will be back to defend the 2012 crown. At the moment there are no official announcements regarding the drivers and teams.

2013 International Superstars Series calendar

 

Photo credit and more information: International Superstars Series

STS in Pergusa - Kristoffersson wins the Title - Schöffler breaks into Top Ten

MTM Press Release

The stage was set for the finals of the Superstar Series 2012 at the seasoned Pergusa race track, which surrounds the same-named volcanic lake on the island of Sicily. Many race pilots, regardless of what car they were driving, would have rather stepped on the gas at a more modern venue. Here, the deck was stacked against them - especially to the disappointment of the Audi drivers - while it brought safety risks for all participants.

The handicaps for the three RS 5s were mainly a result of the extra weight ruling for winning brands.
This affects acceleration as well as braking, at top speed, and has an especially adverse effect when hitting the curb. The additional weight pulls on the suspension, which is subjected to the most extreme endurance tests, particularly on two chicanes in Pegusa. In this respect, the 14th position of the candidate for the title, Johan Kristofferson, was not the result of a sudden loss of competence b ut rather the sum of all things - which easily tipped the scales. Thomas Schöffler, in the MTM RS 5, and Gianni Morbidelli were also not able to conjure up any magic against the laws of physics. The only thing that the Audi trio could count on, were position improvements due to failures by the competition. And the race brought it on: Kristofferson came in at fifth place in the first race, former Formula 1 pilot Gianni Morbidelli took sixth position and Thomas Schöffler fought his way into the top ten. Good prospects for a cockpit career can be expected for this 19-year-old newcomer, whose race alongside the experienced international players saw him come in at ninth place, which translated into eighth place when all chips were down.

Kristoffersson had to sweat to keep his narrow lead in the second run of the championship, especially since he was "torpedoed" from behind in the Pineta chicane, which ultimately totaled his RS 5. For safety reasons, Audi team manager Radaelli called the two remaining RS 5s, from Morbidelli and Schöffler, into the pit. When the day was over, Kristoffersson took the title, with a four-point lead.

Video: RS5 vs AMG - Drama at the Superstars final

By Johan Laubscher

The 2012 Superstars season headed to the final round at Pergusa with a two-way dogfight for the title. Johan Kristoffersson in the RS5 lead the championship on arrival, closely followed by ex-F1 driver Vitantonio Liuzzi in a Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Johan finished fifth during race one which was enough to secure him the Italian Superstars title, but the International Superstars title was still up for grabs. Going into the final race of the season there were only four points separating Johan and Liuzzi. The race turned into a very dramatic affair. Johan was collected during a racing incident by another AMG driver and it looked like all was lost. Liuzzi only needed to finish fifth to claim the title and it looked like he had it in the bag. However minutes from the end Liuzzi was collected and sent into the gravel by a fellow AMG driver, effectively handing the title back to Johan Kristoffersson. With both title hopefuls out of the race the young Swedish Audi star was crowned both the Italian and International Superstars champion. You can watch the highlights from this dramatic final race below.

Photo by Audi Sport Italia / www.superstars.it

Johan Kristoffersson is triple king in wild International Superstars Series decider at Pergusa

Audi Sport Italia Press Release

Wild, wild, wild International Superstars Series decider at Pergusa: Sweden's Johan Kristoffersson is triple king in spite of scary shunt to his KMS RS5

Audi drivers soldier on at ultra-quick and tough Sicilian venue in their less rewarding day but Kristoffersson, Gianni Morbidelli and Thomas Schoeffler have the last laugh  

In his debut International Superstars year the new RS5 built over the winter by Audi Sport Italia outfit, with support from Ingolstadt customer department, won 8 rounds out of 16 and sweeped the three championships up for grabs. In an unpredictable and weird finish to a long and entertaining season Johan Kristoffersson was unflappable in showing his mettle in the worst possible environment for his RS5 as well for the sister Audis of Gianni Morbidelli and Thomas Schoeffler. The 23-year old from Arvika started from a terrible 14th spot on the grid, as his closest rival Vitantonio Liuzzi (in the CAAL AMG Mercedes entry) was set to start from Row 4. The Swede after the grim outcome of Saturday was far from wandering through the paddock head hanging, but was definitely aware that at the ultra-quick Sicilian venue he and fellow Audi drivers would have been sitting ducks. Ducks none the less, hoping to be encircled by hunters on their way to shoot each other. Which ultimately proved the winning plan: Kristoffersson posted 10 points, way under his average haul of points, but this was enough today.

Pole sitter Raffaele Giammaria took a lights-to-flag debut victory in the International Superstars Series' morning race leading quietly and smoothly the entire 25-minute race, but behind his Romeo Ferraris AMG Mercedes havoc unfolded and things went Kristoffersson's way. Despite posting five or more seconds per lap slower than the leaders throughout the race in the overweight KMS RS5, the Swede found himself fifth at the finish, one place behind Liuzzi's team-mate Andrea Bacci and one ahead of Gianni Morbidelli. The Camozzi Audi Sport Italia driver after Saturday's practice had had a hard look at calling it a day because of how the Audis were off the pace--moreover just a couple of weeks after having sweeped the Vallelunga meeting. As a matter of fact Audi drivers had been bemoaning all Saturday the demoralizing timesheets that saw German 4WDs penalized by the edge in power of AMG Mercedeses and Chevys, as well as by the layout of the four chicanes, whose kerbs were tilted in favor of the swifter Audi rivals and magnifying the hindrances of their hefty weight--the highest in the Series' scales. RS5 drivers even tried to follow the lines of lighter cars' drivers through the kerbs, but immediately they paid dearly with broken schocks, and Morbidelli paid such a toll twice. But Audi tactics--if it may have been the only available--proved right as a host of cars pitted early due to either mechanical trouble or tussles. Besides Kristoffersson's fifth place, Morbidelli wound up sixth and Schoeffler--in the MTM Motorsport operated car--was able to break into the Top10 and claim a ninth place in spite of starting from the pit lane, as the German had underwent a deep rebuild after a shunt in free practice 1.

Kristoffersson was therefore taking his 183 points to the afternoon decider--to Liuzzi's 178. The former Formula 1 driver after a fairly disappointing race 1 (taking into account that Pergusa proved an AMG Mercedes-friendly track, as Giammaria's pole and sweep of wins proves) was kind of down, but far from out. And from their position on Row 2 Kristoffersson and Morbidelli braced themselves for the green light and a possible stampede at the first corner. Surprisingly no mishap occurred at Turn 1, although the power of a couple of AMG Mercedeses had the upper's hand on the RS5s in the opening lap, but the lightining was ready to struck. On Lap 2 Kristoffersson was torpedoed at Pineta chicane by Nico Caldarola's AMG Mercedes, that seemed to miss completely the braking point. The Swede looked shaken but safe out of the car, which immediately looked like a chassis on the brink of being written off. If the morning race had barely dented Kristoffersson's lead, the shunt seemed to put out of the hands of Audi drivers the series' outcome, especially at the only 2012 venue where the RS5 drivers were toiling with an inferior car.

Audi Sport Italia's team principal Emilio Radaelli, who's also owner of Superstars RS5s radioed to survivors Morbidelli and Schoeffler to park their cars in the pit lane.

Kristoffersson's being rammed and sidelined for good looked like the icing of the cake of a meeting build-up that had seemed to have everything in place to give Audis, and especially the Swede rookie rival of Liuzzi, a raw deal. Audi Sport Italia's boss didn't not refrain from getting his point across with the press and also remarked the shortcomings of a circuit that in his mind was not well suited for a series which is said to aspire to upscale status. After the surprise cancellation of the Sentul round the white-hot finale was hosted at a venue which is not on par with either most domestic series or Superstars legs and in some areas had dangerous shortcomings. To borrow a line from former US President Dick Cheney, all the "unknown unknowns" that sprouted in the past few weeks looked unfavorable to the Audi camp. But as things turned ugly for Audi and Kristoffersson--who was sure of claiming at least the Italian and Rookie Superstars crown in any case--this time actually victory was snatched from the grip of defeat. And this was due to a family feud, as Andrea Larini's Romeo Ferraris AMG Mercedes punted off Liuzzi's CAAL AMG Mercedes entry while the former Toro Rosso driver was occupying a third place that would grant him the coveted International Superstars title. But Larini had Liuzzi's number since the latter had roughed the Tuscan in the Spa Francorchamps meeting. Liuzzi's battered car made it to the ninth place, but this left him still four points adrift of the Swede, who this year has claimed a record five titles, including a couple in his home country... Morbidelli, level in wins at four with the KMS driver, wound up fourth in the points standings. Schoeffler, the youngest Superstars regular driver, claimed a nice eight place, breaking into the Top10 with a good streak of results in the second half of the season.

International Superstars Series 2012
Pergusa (EN), October 28
Race 1
1. R. Giammaria (Mercedes AMG) 14 laps/giri
2. F. Sini (Chevrolet) +5.988
3. V. Liuzzi (Mercedes AMG) +46.581

4. A. Bacci (Mercedes AMG) +48.814
5. J. KRISTOFFERSSON (AUDI RS 5) +1'18.093
6. G. MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS 5) +1'18.762
../..
9. T. SCHOEFFLER (AUDI RS 5) +1'28.840 

International Superstars Series 2012
Pergusa (EN), October 28
Race 2
1. R. Giammaria (Mercedes AMG) 10 laps
2. L. Ferrara (Mercedes AMG) +11.213s
3. S. Iacone (Chevrolet) +12.079s

4. T. Biagi (Mercedes AMG) +14.430s

5. C. Fittipaldi (Maserati) +35.806
../..

R. G. MORBIDELLI (AUDI RS 5)

R. T. SCHOEFFLER (AUDI RS 5)

R. J. KRISTOFFERSSON (AUDI RS5)

INTERNATIONAL SUPERSTARS SERIES 2012

Drivers' points standings after 14 rounds:

1. KRISTOFFERSSON 185 points;

2. Liuzzi 181 pts.;

3. Biagi 159 pts.; 

4. MORBIDELLI 128 pts.;

5. Sini 92 pts;

6. Larini 90 pts.;

7. Gabellini 75 pts.;

8. SCHOEFFLER 71 pts.;

9. Pigoli 60 pts.;

10. Giammaria 45 pts.