Liuzzi lights up maiden Superstars weekend

Formula One refugee Vitantonio Liuzzi enjoyed a winning start to his Superstars career at the series season-opening Monza event.

Max Pigoli scored the opening win of the season with a perfect drive from pole position. The Ferlito Motors-Jaguar driver found himself under intense pressure from a charging Andrea Larini (Romeo Ferraris-Mercedes) throughout but was able to hold on to win by a shade under half a second.

Liuzzi (CAAL Racing-Mercedes) completed the podium in his maiden Superstars outing, an incredible feat after gearbox woes in qualifying left the 30-year-old dead last on the race one grid. The former F1 man charged through the field to finish just over a second behind victor Pigoli.

Behind Liuzzi former series champ Thomas Biagi (Dinamic-BMW) was fourth with Johan Kristofferson (Audi Sport KMS) fifth at the flag. Former Ferrari F1 super-sub Mika Salo (Swiss Team-Maserati) was sixth on his Superstars debut.

Following his race one heroics Liuzzi became undoubted favourite for victory in the second run, duly living up to billing with his maiden Superstars triumph.




With the top eight positions from the opening race reversed Liuzzi started sixth on the grid, but his surge to P1 was almost instant. Within a few corners he had carved his way through to second and then overcame leader Domenico Caldarola (Roma-Mercedes) at the final turn of the opening lap.

Out front Liuzzi was in control. Salo proved his only real competition, and when a rear wheel failure pitched him off the circuit late on the Mercedes' triumph was assured.
The Finn's misfortune promoted Pigoli into second place and thus ensures he leaves Monza with the championship lead. Francesco Sini (Solaris-Chevrolet) took third, ahead of Biagi and multiple Superstars champ Gianni Morbidelli (Audi Sport Italia).

Pigoli's advantage over Liuzzi leaving the Milanese autodrome is five points, though should the former Red Bull protégée repeat the form shown this weekend throughout the season he will be tough to beat. The next round takes place at Imola over the weekend of April 21-22.

Watch LIVE Superstars Series action on Motors TV throughout 2012


James Weeks