Vallelunga, 6 October

Tomorrow the Vallelunga circuit will be the setting that decides who will be in the hunt for the title in the 2012 European Ferrari Challenge Series in the penultimate round prior to the Finali Mondiali at Valencia on 2 December. The pretenders to the throne arrive in Rome having visited a host of famous tracks for an event that could see the winners crowned with one race in hand. For both Balzan and Basov, respectively the leaders in the Trofeo Pirelli and Coppa Shell, only need to pick up 48 points to take their titles, although the high quality of the opposition will ensure that it’s a tough battle right down to the wire.

In today’s qualifying, Alessandro Balzan, current leader of the Trofeo Pirelli, took pole for Race 1: the man from Venice who drives for the Ferrari Moscow team, lapped in 1.37.673, ahead of team-mate Alexandr Skryabin beating him by 0.141. The second row features a pair of Italians, Lorenzo Casè (Motor/Piacenza) who lapped in 1.38.034, beating local hero Dario Caso (1.38.211) who on his home track will try and make the most of over a decades experience in the one-make series. Professionalism and charisma are not lacking in Lorenzo Casè, who at the end of the second qualifying session was quickest in 1.38.728, thus taking pole for Race 2 ahead of Balzan (1.38.730) and Bjorn Grossman (1.38.733.) These two Ferrari Moscow drivers have been very strong virtually monopolizing the top positions in the 2012 Trofeo Pirelli.

Another Roman driver was the star in the first session for the Coppa Shell in the shape of Daniele Di Amato (CDP) with a best time of 1.38.883, to beat current series leader Alexey Basov (Ferrari Moscow, 1.39.112) and the Motor/Piacenza driver Raffaele Giannoni from Italy third in 1.39.830. Portugal’s Francisco Guedes (Motor/Piacenza) did well too, taking pole for Race 2 in 1.39.442, followed by the Rossocorsa/Pellin driver Alessandro Vezzoni (1.39.540) and Basov (1.39.600.)