Italy F3000: Vallelunga race notes

Toni Vilander won his first race of the season in Vallelunga

Toni Vilander signed his first win in the Trofeo Csai F.3000 Italia. The finnish did it in the same day that welcomed the triumph of his countryman and friend Kimi Raikkonen in the Barcellona F.1 Grand Prix. The czech deb Jarek Janis, thanks to a wonderfull performance, finished second, while Giacomo Ricci, after a brave remount, got the third step of the podium. Del Monte and Caceres (GP Racing) saw the chequered flag with a bigger delay, just before Charouz. Seventh, and firts of the Light division, is Gattuso, then Vorba, with Sighinolfi's Lola, and Strano with the other Light car.

The race

Filippi take a bad start, turning off the engine and causing a problem to his team mate Ciompi who start from the second row. Auinger take the chance, passes him and obtains the leadership, followed by Vilander who leads Janis, Caceres and Del Monte. Filippi re-starts and begin his remount. Vilander passes the austrian of Sighinolfi team at the Cimini turn and begin to increase his advantage. 5th lap: Vilander has 3" on Janis, who is 1"5 before Caceres. Filippi loses control of his car at the Cimini turn and hits his teammate Ciompi, ruining the race for both.

Safety Car for 3 laps. 8th lap: the race restarts, Vilander is the leader, then Janis, Caceres, Del Monte, Auinger, Gattuso, Ricci, Charouz, Vorba, Russo and Strano. 10th lap: Caceres and Del Monte collided, Auinger slides in fourth position, while Ricci passes Gattuso. 12 lap: Vilander and Janis push hard, Ricci passes Del monte and is fifth after Auinger. 18 lap: Auigers retires after a crash with Caceres. The positions get fixed lap after lap. In the last minutes Del Monte passes Caceres for the 4th place, and in the very last metres Charouz steals the sixth position to Gattuso, but Gattuso keeps the title in the Light Division.

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