Last weekend
at the Monza circuit the Ferrari Challenge celebrated
its twentieth anniversary in front of no
less than 31,000 spectators who turned up to watch a package
that also featured the Superstars Series and GT Sprint
races. The
crowd enjoyed the busy programme that featured plenty of spectacular overtaking
and closely contested races that were seen on television in over 60 countries.
Both Trofeo Pirelli races were won by Bjiorn Grossmann (Ferrari
Moscow.) The German driver started Race 1 from second on the grid after he duelled in
spectacular fashion with pole man Niki Cadei and then with Andrea Belluzzi (Rossocorsa)
who had adeptly broken away as the other two fought among themselves. By the end
of the 17 laps, Grossmann had retaken the lead, crossing the line ahead of
Belluzzi and the Ukrainian Andrii Kruglyk (Ferrari Ukraina,) while Cadei
(Motor/Piacenza) had to settle for sixth after a spin on lap 13 that allowed the
Russian Skryabin to get through and win the Coppa Giovani category for the under
25s.Grossmann was the dominant driver, taking the win in Race 2, which he led
from start to finish, from Cadei and Stefano Gai (Ferrari Moscow.) Of the
youngsters, Skryabin won again thanks to a fifth place behind Dario Caso (CDP)
who inherited a position when Andrea Belluzzi (Rossocorsa) went off track,
without doing any damage, at the Parabolica with only 5 laps to go.
The Coppa Shell races were also very close from start to finish, with fights
going all the way to the chequered flag, with the drivers delivering
performances worthy of professionals. Race 1 saw victory go to the experienced
Giacomo Stratta, reigning world champion with Team Forza, who took a really well
deserved win as he fought off incessant attacks from Raffaele Giannoni
(Motor/Piacenza) and Russia’s Alexey Basov (Ferrari Moscow.) In Race 2, Basov
took the victory ahead of Giannoni and Portugal’s Franciso Guedes (AF Corse,)
taking part in the championship for the very first time. Of the Coppa Shell
runners, the Coppa (for gentlemen) went to Erich Prinoth (Ineco/MP) and Fons Scheltema
(Kessel Racing.)
The next round of the European Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli takes place on
22 April at Imola’s Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit.
Ferrari Challenge Europe Classification
Trofeo Pirelli
Grossmann 43
Cadei 28
Gai 24
Coppa Shell
Basov 34
Giannoni 34
Stratta 23
