13.08.2004 The Fiat Punto has already proved itself as a rally winner, now it is doing the same on the race tracks, Giovanni Mancini leading the N4 class as the CIVT heads into A summer break

Two weeks ago the CIVT 2004 (Italian Touring Car Championship) hit the Grand Prix track of Imola for the fifth round of the series.

Giovanni Mancini, the leading driver from Leone Motorsport, turned in yet another superb performance at the wheel of the 155cv 1.8-litre 16v Fiat Punto HGT, with a crushing dominant display worthy of Michael Schumacher.

The Roman engineer, now in his fifth CIVT season, started off at Imola by setting the fastest time in the qualifying session, before claiming race victory in the N4 category, and to boot, posting the fastest lap of the race along the way.

Opposition in the closely contested N4 category comes mainly from several similar Punto HGT racers, including his quick team mate Antonio Giangiacomo, and other marques in the shape of Alfa Romeo, SEAT and MG-Rover.

His win at Imola, six seconds ahead of title rival, Massimiliano Lanza, at the wheel of a Rover MG-ZR, built on four previous points finishes, and reinforced his championship lead.

The CIVT season had started with round one of at the Adria Raceway back on April 4th. After qualifying on pole, and setting the fastest lap, Mancini finished just off the podium in fourth place.

The second race at Magione on May 9th brought Mancini his first win. He started from pole again and also claimed the fastest lap, fending off the close attentions of team mate Giangiacomo in another Punto HGT, who followed him over the line less than a second adrift.

At Pergusa, on May 30th, he left with a solid helping of points, having claimed a second and a third place in each of the two 12-lap races that made up a double header at the Sicilian circuit.

After taking in, and finishing, the legendary Nurburgring 24 Hours at the wheel of a diesel-powered SEAT Ibiza, it was on to Mugello on June 11th, for round four, and he further strengthened his title challenge, finishing second to Lanza's Rover-MG.

Macini now leads the CIVT N4 class after five races with 51 points, while his nearest rival Pierluigi Malatesta in an Alfa Romeo 146, has 45 points.

Massimiliano Lanza (Rover MG-ZR) with 38 points, team mate Antonio Giangiacomo (Fiat Punto HGT) on 18 points and Alfredo Di Cosmo in a similar car, on 16 points, round out the top five.

There is now the usual August break until racing resumes on September 5th at Varano for the first of a programme of four closing rounds.

Three weeks after Varano the CIVT moves onto Monza, before two races in October, at Vallelunga on the 10th, and Misano two weeks later, round the 2004 series out.

by Edd Ellison & Marco Tenuti