Pellegrini wins TCR Italy’s eventful race at Misano

Marco Pellegrini won an incident-packed Race 1 at Misano, becoming the third winner from as many races in the 2019 TCR Italy championship.
The drama began the moment the start lights went out, with the Audi of Jacopo Guidetti appearing to move slightly before stopping with a broken driveshaft. Guidetti had been on the front row of the grid alongside pole-sitter Enrico Bettera, but the remainder of the sixteen-car field managed to avoid the stricken Audi with Eric Scalvini’s CUPRA up to second place behind Bettera going into Turn 1 ahead of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta of Massimiliano Mugelli.
The safety car made a brief appearance while Guidetti’s car was recovered, and there were several contacts as soon as racing restarted. Mugelli suffered more than most, with the Giulietta spun around following contact with Matteo Greco’s CUPRA. Greco later received a drive-through penalty for the incident, while Salvatore Tavano was elevated into third place and Pellegrini into fourth at the expense of the unfortunate Mugelli.
Tavano then passed Scalvini for second place on Lap 4, but the safety car was called into action for a second time after the Opel Astra of Andrea Argenti spun off into the gravel with around fourteen minutes of the race remaining.
The restart signaled the start of the most chaotic part of the race, with Pellegrini immediately attacking Scalvini for third place and Tavano threatening Bettera. Tavano soon snatched the lead, with Pellegrini passing Scalvini moments later and immediately pressuring Tavano. Mugelli’s challenge ended in the gravel before Pellegrini passed Bettera for second place on Lap 11. 
The race still had a few surprises in store, however, and the lead changed hands again when Tavano slowed and then stopped, allowing the Target Competition Hyundai of Pellegrini to move into first place. Bettera refused to give up the fight and the Audi driver continued to pressure Pellegrini on the final lap. It was to no avail, however, and Pellegrini took the win by 1.248 seconds over Bettera, with Scalvini’s CUPRA making it three different brands on the podium.
Behind the trio, Igor Stefanovski was fourth, Matteo Bergonzini fifth and first in the DSG Trophy.
The second place meant that Bettera moved on top of the standings, four points clear of Pellegrini, while Tavano slipped from first to third, 8 points from the leader.
Race 2 will start Sunday at 10:50 CET; live streaming at www.tcr-series.tv.

Race 1
1. Marco Pellegrini (Target Competition, Hyundai i30 N TCR), 14 laps
2. Enrico Bettera (Pit Lane Competizioni, Audi RS 3 LMS), 1.248
3. Eric Scalvini (Scuderia del Girasole, CUPRA), 1.650
4. Igor Stefanovski (Stefanovski Racing Team, CUPRA), 3.965
5. Matteo Bergonzini (BF Motorsport, CUPRA DSG), 10.556

Championship points
1. Bettera 38 pts; 2. Pellegrini 34; 3. Tavano 30