It was a bitter Saturday for the Megadrive-Racing Box team at the Italian Gran Turismo championship at Vallelunga. Matteuzzi/Perazzini's Maserati MC12 had to retire in race 1 while holding first spot. With the retirement went the chances of contesting the title with Malucelli and Ramos.

At the rolling start Perazzini roared off and held onto his first place. However, at the Roma curve the MC12 had to give up first place to Morbidelli. On lap 4, benefiting from a problem with the Saleen, Perazzini retook the lead. After fifteen minutes of racing, Perazzini's advantage ranged between 1"5 - 1"7.

Rui Aguas in GT3 took command of proceedings, followed by Palma. Ceccato was in fourth position but after a few laps he climbed up to third.

On lap 11 came the defining incident: Perazzini spun at Cimini and was run into by Belicchi. The Maserati continued slowly and stopped in the pits. Unfortunately the damage to the rear of the car was too serious for the MC12 to go on and it was pushed from the pits into parco chiuso.

The driver changes over, the situation in GT3 saw Frigerio in the lead after substituting Aguas. Second was Merzario with Zampaloni in third. Twelve laps from the end Merzario was shown the black flag for failing to stop at a stop and go. The commissioners hit him with the penalty when it was his team mate Ceccato who had clashed with La Mazza. Zampaloni thus inherited second place but he gradually lost ground and ended the race in third. Frigerio/Aguas ran out winners with the Portuguese driver collecting his sixth win of the season. He is still in with a chance of winning the Trofeo CSAI GT3 title. He has 172 points compared to the 188 of Zampolini/Palma.

The last act of the championship comes this afternoon with race 2.