Altoè, uncle and nephew, take win in Monza 2 hours
It was a family success in the inaugural 2-hour race of the TCR DSG Endurance Italian championship at Monza: Giovanni Altoè, paired with the latest member of the racing dynasty, his nephew Alessandro, took a nice win at the wheel of a CUPRA car. The pair beat the other two main front-runners of the weekend: the Audi RS 3 LMS of Le Mans legend Dindo Capello and Nicola Guida, and the CUPRA of Carlotta Fedeli-Cosimo Barberini.
Fedeli, back to racing after becoming a mother, took an excellent start from Row 2, passing both Capello and Giovanni Altoè at the first chicane. Unfortunately, she could not keep the lead and was overtaken by her two rivals at the Parabolica. Capello and Altoè started a thrilling duel, swapping the first position several times until lap 20, when the CUPRA driver stopped for the first of two mandatory pit stops. Capello followed 6 laps later, handing the lead to Fedeli, who managed to keep Paolo Pelatti’s Audi at bay.
After the first pit stop, Alessandro Altoè retained the lead from the Audi cars of Giacomo Barri and Gabriele Volpato who was then forced to the pits with a brake problem. Barberini and Guida followed in fourth and fifth positions respectively.
After the second round of pit stops, with only 20 minutes left, Giovanni Altoè was back in the lead, with Barri only two seconds behind; Barberini, Russo and Capello were chasing the leading pair. There won’t be a final duel for victory, as Barri was slowed by technical problems and also incurred in a 25-second penalty, dropping to 6th, while Capello had no problems to climb positions and seize a podium finish in second place.
Race
1. Scuderia del Girasole, CUPRA (G. Altoè/A. Altoè), 54 laps
2. Scuderia del Girasole, Audi RS 3 LMS (Capello/Guida), 36.179
3. Scuderia del Girasole, CUPRA (Fedeli/Barberini), 45.631
Championship
1. Capello/Guida 35 pts; 2. G. Altoè/A. Altoè 30; 3. Fedeli/Barberini 23
