The 2012 International Superstars Series is all set to get underway at Monza this weekend with a mixture of new drivers and experienced professionals all looking to secure the crown.
Heading into its ninth season, the self proclaimed “State of the Art in World Car Racing” will feature nine different car manufacturers on the grid and a calendar which heads to five different countries in Europe and Asia, with the finale being the Series’ first trip to Asia as the Indonesian circuit of Sentul makes it début.
Monza plays host to the opening round and for former Formula One drivers Vitantonio Liuzzi and Mika Salo, it marks their débuts. Former Force India and HRT racer Liuzzi joins CAAL Racing in one of their Mercedes C63 AMG’s while Salo has joined Swiss Team and will race one of their Maserati Quattroporte’s.
Joining Liuzzi and Salo on the grid is multiple Champion Gianni Morbidelli, who returns at the wheel of a brand new Audi RS5. Also competing in Audi RS5’s is Swedish driver Johan Kristoffersson for the KMS team and Thomas Schoeffler, who will drive for MTM.
2010 Champion Thomas Biagi also returns for another attack on the series, driving a BMW M3 under the Team BMW Dinamic name and with assistance from ROAL Motorsport. W&D enter the series for the first time with a brace of BMW’s for father and son duo of Walter and Paolo Meloni.
Verona-based team Ferlito Motors return with a brace of Jaguar XF-R racers. Vincenzo Ferlito, a well known name in the Superstars Series has signed experienced driver Max Pigoli and powerboat racer come car racer Gian Maria Gabbiani to drive the British manufacturer’s cars. For Pigoli, it provides him with a chance to repeat his 2006 title success, as he brought home the title for Jaguar.
Gabbiani can’t wait for the Superstars Season to get underway: “This one has been a season of great surprises so far for me. First came the Class 1 Powerboat debut at Doha, then this sensational new chance in Superstars. The car has great potential especially on the really fast tracks like Monza, and I’m looking forward to use the new Hankook tires, which have proved great in testing. The car is the same I used at MotorShow, but this time in a much more suitable environment: I can’t wait to race the Motorola Jaguar!”
Joining the Superstars grid for 2012 in their Mercedes is GTSprint graduate Max Mugelli and Nicola Larini’s brother, Andrea, while the Lexus ISF will be on the grid in the hands of Simone Monforte and the Nocentini outfit.
Roma Racing Team will run seventeen year old Andrea Boffo alongside Nico Caldarola in their Mercedes C63 AMG racers while the Chevrolet Lumina of Solaris Motorsport will be piloted by Francesco Sini.