Guest driver Gavrilov wins first TCR Italy race at Monza
Guest driver Klim Gavrilov made a stunning debut in TCR Italy by winning with authority the first of the season’s opening event at Monza.
The 19-year-old Russian, at the wheel of the LTA Rally Audi RS 3 LMS, defeated the Scuderia del Girasole CUPRA cars driven by the reigning champion Salvatore Tavano and young gun Matteo Greco.
Bad luck hit the poleman Enrico Bettera at the start; his Pit Lane Competizioni Audi stalled and was passed by almost the entire field. Greco took the lead ahead of Massimiliano Mugelli in the PRS Racing Alfa Romeo Giulietta, Tavano and Gavrilov. The four leaders delivered an exciting battle; there were contacts and Mugelli had to pit with a punctured tyre after an incident with Tavano.
At the end of lap 2, Gavrilov took the lead with a superb move on Greco at the Parabolica and the Russian pulled away ahead of Tavano. Greco slipped to fourth, as Marco Pellegrini in the Target Competition Hyundai i30 N managed to pass; they made contact and this would cost Pellegrini a 25-second penalty.
Behind them were Felix Wimmer (Wimmer Werk CUPRA) and Bettera who had climbed back to eighth and posted the fastest lap; however Bettera retired in lap 7 with a broken engine.
In lap 8, Pellegrini was sandwiched between Wimmer and Jacopo Guidetti’s BF Motorsport Audi; the three of them collided and Pellegrini spun off. Wimmer and Andrea Argenti (South Italy Racing Opel Astra) were fighting for fifth, but they also made contact and Argenti pitted with a punctured tyre.
With some very fast laps, Tavano reduced the gap from Gavrilov, but the Russian increased his pace and secured the win from Tavano, Greco and Guidetti.
Race 1
1. Klim Gavrilov (LTA Rally, Audi RS 3 LMS), 14 laps
2. Salvatore Tavano (Scuderia del Girasole, CUPRA), 2.167
3. Matteo Greco (Scuderia del Girasole, CUPRA), 5.795
4. Jacopo Guidetti (BF Racing, Audi RS 3 LMS), 7.403
5. Felix Wimmer (Wimmer Werk, CUPRA), 19.016
Championship points
1. Gavrilov 20 pts; 2. Tavano 15; 3. Greco 12
