Kristoffersson dominates at Vallelunga to snatch Superstars lead

Johan Kristoffersson assumed the lead of the Superstars Series standings with a dominant double victory at Italian circuit Vallelunga.

Starting the opening race from pole, Kristofferson (KMS-Audi) was briefly overhauled at the start by the CAAL-Mercedes of Tonio Liuzzi, who entered the Vallelunga weekend as championship leader.

However Kristoffersson reclaimed P1 later in the lap and immediately escaped into the distance. He backed off late on, allowing eventual runner-up Thomas Schoffler (MTM-Audi) to close in, but in truth the Swede was not threatened.

Thomas Biagi (Audi Sport Italia) completed the rostrum in his Dinamic BMW, dicing with Liuzzi to seal third spot. Gianni Morbidelli had occupied the position for much of the race but was hit with a late drive-through for shunting Liuzzi out of the way on lap five.

Next across the line were Camilo Zurcher (Romeo-Mercedes), Dinamic BMW team-mates Max Mugelli and Giovanni Berton and the debuting Giancarlo Fisichella (Swiss-Maserati). The three-time grand prix winner became the fifth ex-F1 racer to pilot the car this season following Mika Salo, Christian Fittipaldi, Johnny Herbert and Christian Klien.

Kristoffersson's second win was made all the more impressive by the fact the Swede took the start from eighth on the reversed grid. Rocketing to P4 on the opening tour, he then cut through his remaining rivals to assume the lead on lap eight.

Series debutant Berton took a shock P2 on his Dinamic BMW, the one-time Formula 3000 racer having led early on, with team-mate Mugelli joining him on the podium. Schoffler and Morbidelli rounded out the top-five ahead of title protagonists Biagi and Liuzzi, with Fisichella again taking eighth spot.

The Vallelunga weekend gives Kristoffersson a 10-point advantage over Liuzzi with rounds at Pergusa (October 28) and Indonesian venue Sentul (25 November).

Watch Superstars Series action on Motors TV throughout 2012


James Weeks