Three podium finishes for Audi Sport Italia was not enough at Mugello

Audi Sport Italia Press Release 

R8 LMS ultras three podium finishes are not enough at Mugello, on a day the Italian Gran Turismo points lead change hands

Fmr. leader Andrea Sonvico and Dindo Capello post 3rd and 4th as teammates Davide Di Benedetto-Alex Frassineti clinch runner-up and third spot at Tuscan venue

BMW Italia definitely can call Mugello their own, as the squad run by former touring car star Roberto Ravaglia sweeped the four Italian GT3 rounds that had Tuscany's rolling hills as their backdrop. On Sunday, in their second 2012 visit at the history-laden track, Thomas Biagi and Stefano Colombo claimed both wins, the latter snatching his second successive and fourth season victory from female team mate Michela Cerruti with just half-lap to go. The move allowed the winners to come back atop the points standings for the first time since early August, when Audi Sport Italia's Andrea Sonvico had pipped from the top spot the rivals. Teaming up with Audi mainstay Dindo Capello, Sonvico started from row 3 the morning race, occupying P5 throughout his stint behind Gianluca De Lorenzi's brand-new Mercedes SLS. After the mandatory pit-stop his team mate Capello managed to move up a couple of spots and in the final stages of the round he also had to rely on his ample bag of tricks to safeguard his P3 from the charging BMW of young gun Edoardo Liberati. The runner-up spot was claimed by #32 R8 LMS ultra driven by Davide Di Benedetto and Alex Frassineti. The former proudly put his mark on the most amazing start seen this season, rocketing from row 2 on the outside of Colombo and Matteo Malucelli's Porsche at San Donato bend. The Sicilian bravely resisted the pressure from the BMW driver until Lap 6, when he relinquished the lead to Colombo, who never looked back thereafter. Malucelli on contrary didn't give any sign of giving up, but Di Benedetto kept P2 safe until the pit stop, leaving to Alex Frassineti the opportunity to seal the pair fifth 2012 podium finish.

Race 2 had Audi's Saturday hero, Frassineti, sitting on pole. The Rome-based driver didn't make any mistake at the start of the afternoon 48-minute plus 1-lap race, but he was quickly passed for the lead by Biagi, who had started second in his Z4. Frassineti was then able to fend off Liberati's assault until Lap 6, when the BMW driver moved by making it a 1-2 for the Z4s. Frassineti then kept the fastest pace --that is, among drivers who were not sitting in a BMW, whilst Capello was stuck in P5 behind Stefano Comandini's Ferrari, whose better top speed allowed the Rome driver to keep the 3-time Le Mans winner at bay until the pit stop. The pit stop sent back on tracks a pair of BMWs leading a pair of Audis, with Di Benedetto comfortably edging Sonvico. The latter in the closing laps had to put in his best driving resources as Malucelli's Porsche came back menancingly but ultimately had to bow to the Audi.

Porsches were off pace at Mugello, leaving Audis alone to attempt to spoil BMW's party, but they are likely to come back with a vengeance at Monza season finale where, besides leading Biagi-Colombo and runner-up Sonvico, even Di Benedetto-Frassineti have could be a dark horse as candidate to grab the Gran Turismo crown, now held by Audi works driver Marco Bonanomi.

CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Round 11 - Mugello, September 23:
1. T. Biagi - S. Colombo (BMW) 26 laps 49:57.052, avg speed 163,804 kph

2. D. DI BENEDETTO - A. FRASSINETI (AUDI R8 LMS ultra) +6.4564s

3. D. CAPELLO - A. SONVICO (AUDI R8 LMS ultra) + 15.405s
4. M. Cerruti - E. Liberati (BMW) + 16.070s

5. S. Comandini - V. Fornaroli (Ferrari) + 30.311s

CAMPIONATO ITALIANO GRAN TURISMO 2012
Round 12 - Mugello, September 23:
1. T. Biagi - S. Colombo (BMW) 26 laps 49:56.599 avg speed 163,829 kph

2. M. Cerruti - E. Liberati (BMW) + 0.717s

3. D. DI BENEDETTO - A. FRASSINETI (AUDI R8 LMS ultra) +24.878s

4. D. CAPELLO - A. SONVICO (AUDI R8 LMS ultra) + 26.213s

5. S. Comandini - V. Fornaroli (Ferrari) + 26.705s

2012 ITALIAN GRAN TURISMO

Drivers' points standings (after 12 rounds):

1. Biagi/Colombo 139 points;

3. SONVICO 132 pts.;

4. DI BENEDETTO/FRASSINETI 130 pts.;

6. Balzan e Barri 114 pts.;

8. Cerruti e Liberati 95 pts.;

10. CAPELLO 94 pts.;