By Andrew van Leeuwen Saturday, April 6th 2013, 12:49 GMT
Liuzzi sets blistering practice paceTonio Liuzzi set a blistering time to lead a Mercedes 1-2-3 in free practice for the International Superstars Series opener at Monza.
The ex-Formula 1 driver left it late to take the top spot in the second of two sessions, jumping ahead of Romeo Ferraris Mercedes team-mate Thomas Biagi on his last lap with a 1m54.360s - the time a full 1.5s faster than last year's pole time from Max Pigoli.
Biagi was the only other driver to break into the 54s bracket, a 1m54.985s leaving him comfortably ahead of Luigi Ferrara, who was third in the Roma Racing Mercedes, albeit 1.4s behind the ultimate pace.
The 2013 Superstars grid guide
Francesco Sini gave the brand new Solaris Chevrolet Camaro a solid first official outing with the fourth best time, edging out reigning champion Johan Kristoffersson, who was fifth quickest in the Petri Corse Porsche.
A late lap from Giovanni Berton made him the best of the Dinamic BMWs in sixth, ahead of Ferlito Jaguar's Andrea Larini and Audi Sport Italia's Gianni Morbidelli.
In the morning's first session, Morbidelli made good use of mixed weather conditions to go fastest in four-wheel-drive Audi on a damp track. The veteran clocked a 2m04.332s late in the session to edge out Ferrara by just 0.023s.
Liuzzi and Biagi were third and fourth fastest in the wet, while Kristoffersson wound up ninth, a flurry of late laps costing him dearly after he had sat on top for the majority of the 30-minute session.
Practice one
Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
1. Gianni Morbidelli Audi 2m04.332s 9
2. Luigi Ferrara Mercedes 2m04.355s + 0.023s 11
3. Vitantonio Liuzzi Mercedes 2m05.704s + 1.372s 7
4. Thomas Biagi Mercedes 2m05.851s + 1.519s 10
5. Francesco Sini Chevrolet 2m06.328s + 1.996s 9
6. Giovanni Berton BMW 2m07.683s + 3.351s 11
7. Andrea Larini Jaguar 2m07.766s + 3.434s 9
8. Leonardo Baccarelli Mercedes 2m08.249s + 3.917s 12
9. Johan Kristoffersson Porsche 2m09.496s + 5.164s 10
10. Alessandro Battaglin Lexus 2m11.497s + 7.165s 7
11. Francesco Ascani BMW 2m11.602s + 7.270s 13
12. Ferdinando Geri Audi 2m11.964s + 7.632s 10
13. Mauro Trentin BMW 2m13.329s + 8.997s 11
14. Andrea Bacci Mercedes 2m13.664s + 9.332s 6
15. Gianni Giudici BMW 2m20.709s + 16.377s 5
16. Max Fantini Porsche no time 6
17. Max Mugelli BMW no time 1
18. Roberto Benedetti Cadillac no time 1
Practice two
Pos Driver Car Time Gap Laps
1. Vitantonio Liuzzi Mercedes 1m54.360s 11
2. Thomas Biagi Mercedes 1m54.985s + 0.625s 14
3. Luigi Ferrara Mercedes 1m55.798s + 1.438s 11
4. Francesco Sini Chevrolet 1m56.811s + 2.451s 12
5. Johan Kristoffersson Porsche 1m57.162s + 2.802s 10
6. Giovanni Berton BMW 1m57.244s + 2.884s 13
7. Andrea Larini Jaguar 1m57.263s + 2.903s 11
8. Gianni Morbidelli Audi 1m57.452s + 3.092s 11
9. Andrea Bacci Mercedes 1m57.641s + 3.281s 11
10. Diabolik Jaguar 1m58.642s + 4.282s 9
11. Gianni Giudici BMW 1m58.975s + 4.615s 11
12. Alessandro Battaglin Lexus 1m59.110s + 4.750s 5
13. Roberto Benedetti Cadillac 1m59.188s + 4.828s 11
14. Mauro Trentin BMW 1m59.210s + 4.850s 13
15. Max Fantini Porsche 1m59.396s + 5.036s 11
16. L.Baccarelli Mercedes 1m59.955s + 5.595s 12
17. Francesco Ascani BMW 2m01.974s + 7.614s 13
18. Ferdinando Geri Audi 2m02.449s + 8.089s 13
19. Max Mugelli BMW no time 0
