Monza, 31 March

It’s the start of the season for the European series of the Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli, which is taking place this weekend at Monza’s Autodromo Nazionale. The on-track action in the series, which is being held for the 20th time this year, officially began today with four sessions of official practice. The same number of races will take place on Sunday for the drivers in the Trofeo Pirelli and the Coppa Shell, who are competing in separate sessions from this weekend onwards.

Last season ended well for Stefano Gai and Max Blancardi, who dominated the Italian and European series of the Trofeo Pirelli respectively, but this year they are up against each other in the combined continental championship. The 2012 edition looks very interesting right from the first qualifying session and, with more than 40 drivers competing, it promises a high-level sporting contest. That is thanks to the presence both of new faces and old friends, ready to battle behind the wheel of their own cars.

In both qualifying sessions for the Trofeo Pirelli, Niki Cadei (Motor/Piacenza) topped the timesheets. It was a great return for the Bergamo-based driver who took the Trofeo Pirelli Italia title in 2003 and 2008 and last year enjoyed a successful season in GT Sprint at the wheel of an AF Corse car. Alongside Cadei on tomorrow’s front row in both races will be Germany’s Bjorn Grossmann, in a car run by Ferrari Moscow. He was followed in the first session by Andrea Belluzzi, the San Marino driver who is racing this year for Rossocorsa, well known for their previous successes with the F430 Challenge. The second and final race promises to be just as hard-fought because Stefano Gai (Ferrari Moscow) is among the leading positions on the grid having set the third fastest time (1.51.941) behind Cadei and Grossmann. The Milan driver thus shows he is still very competitive and ready to add to his already glowing roll of honour with a new run of success at the European level.

From the entrants for the Coppa Shell, the best time in the first session was set by Daniele Di Amato (CDP), a newcomer last season together with his father Renato, with whom he raced on numerous occasions both in Italy and abroad. Di Amato ended the first session with a time of 1.52.222, followed by Giacomo Stratta (1.52.748), another well-known face to Ferrari as well as a world champion, with Team Forza. In the second session Raffaele Giannoni (Motor/Piacenza) emerged from the pack with a time of 1.52.859, getting the better of Russia’s Alexey Basov (Ferrari Moscow) who set the second fastest time (1.52.986).

From this year the new features also include the introduction of two new title races: one for drivers under 25 years old in the Trofeo Pirelli who will fight for the Coppa Giovani – and one for drivers over 55 years old who will compete for the Coppa Gentleman.

The Ferrari Challenge Trofeo Pirelli continues tomorrow with four races, scheduled for 10.05 (Trofeo Pirelli Race 1), 12.20 (Coppa Shell Race 1), 15.05 (Trofeo Pirelli Race 2), 17.20 (Coppa Shell Race 2). In Italy the racing will enjoy its customary SKY Sport coverage, with repeats during the week, while abroad the Monza weekend will be broadcast in more than 60 countries.