AUTOGP: Pantano tops practice at Monza

Series returnee Giorgio Pantano has topped the practice times at Monza as Auto GP prepares for its championship deciding weekend.

The 2008 GP2 champion, driving for Auto GP debutants Ombra this weekend, was 0.35 seconds quicker than Adrien Tambay, with title contender Romain Grosjean third quickest.

The inaugural season makes it final stop this weekend, with the title set to be decided at the legendary Milanese circuit.

And, after ten races over five weekends, six drivers still have a mathematical shot at the title.

Grosjean (DAMS) is the championship leader and strong favourite, despite missing the opening two weekends of the season. The former-F1 driver has won three races and racked up 42 points, putting him one clear of teammate and second place man Edoardo Piscopo. The Italian is yet to win a race yet, but could yet claim the title with a solid weekend at Monza.

Third and fourth in the championship are also occupied by drivers yet to claim a win in 2010, with Duncan Tappy (DAMS) on 32 points and Jan Charouz (Charouz-Gravity Racing) on 28. Both will probably need to find that maiden win this weekend if they're to overhaul Grosjean and take the title.

Fifth and sixth in the standings are Luca Filippi (Super Nova) and Carlos Iaconelli (Durango) respectively. Filippi goes in to the Monza weekend 17 points of top spot, whilst Iaconelli is 18 in arrears of Grosjean. Each man would need a near-perfect weekend, with Grosjean and Piscopo failing to score, to have any hope of taking home the championship.

The season finale will also see an Auto GP debut for 2009-10 GP2 Asia Series champion Davide Valsecchi, who joins RP Motorsport. The Italian, who has also been a racewinner in the main GP2 Series, replaces fellow GP2 alumni Giacomo Ricci, who enjoyed an impressive maiden weekend at the Circuito de Navarra with runner-up spot in race two.

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James Weeks.