Alberto Cerrai scored his fourth win of the Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa season at Mugello. This latest race was the sixth and penultimate round. Second place went to Andrea Demegni in his best result of the year. In claiming this position, he fended off Ivan Capelli-Massimo Arduini, Antonio Andolfato and Maurizio Fabris. Fabris is still leader of the Maserati single-make series as he holds a seven point lead over Cerrai. So, the title will be decided at Valencia, Spain, and the final race of the season.
Alessi began from pole and extended his advantage over his pursuers, Ivan Capelli, Giacomo Ricci and Alberto Cerrai. There was a battle on the opening lap between Cerrai and Ricci before the latter went off the track and slipped 12 positions. Cerrai continued his surge and overtook Capelli on lap two. The first three positions were unchanged until the pit stops midway through the race. Occupying the positions behind the front three were Andrea Demegni, Alberto Vescovi, Antonio Andolfato and championship leader Maurizio Fabris. Demegni had pulled into a secure position in fourth while Vescovi had fallen away a little. Andolfato, fifth, was having to keep Simone De Martini and Fabris at bay. The unkind track conditions saw both Philip Burgan and Jimmy Ghione overshoot turns and lose some places.



The second part of the race, with the pit stops completed, witnessed Alessi's partner, Enrico Galeazzi, take command over Cerrai and Massimo Arduini (Capelli's replacement). Closing in were Demegni and Andolfato. Demegni's decisive attack came on lap 19, a lap when Cerrai also shook off Galeazzi to take the lead. Demegni was also quick as he passed Arduini to take a splendid second.
On lap 23 Galeazzi was forced to retire with technical problems.
The Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa 2006 grand finale will be staged at the Spanish circuit of Valencia on 8 October. A World FIA Turismo championship event will be held on the same weekend.

Trofeo Audemars Piguet Maserati Europa: final classification at Mugello:
1. Cerrai 25 giri in 1h02'23"246; 2. Demegni + 6"307; 3. Capelli-Arduini + 11"831; 4. Andolfato + 23"337; 5. Fabris + 26"214; 6. De Martini-Panacci + 28"336; 7. Vescovi + 30"376; 8. Oddi-Ricci + 46"163; 9. Maggi + 46"848; 10. Zenere + 1'01"843

Overall (after six races):
1. Fabris 123; 2. Cerrai 116; 3. Demegni 64; 4. Oddi 63; 5. Andolfato 62; 6. Ricci 53; 7. Zenere 50; 8. Vescovi 49; 9. De Martini and Panacci 45