The fourth stop on the calendar, Misano also hosted the Clio Cup Italia season-opener and round three of the Clio Cup España. The Italian drivers set the pace on home soil in Friday’s free practice sessions. Present on the grid for the first time this season, Alex Lancellotti (GPA Racing) dominated the first session. Gabriele Torelli took over from him at the top a few hours later.

Race 1 : Torelli dominates

Gabriele Torelli took his fourth pole position of the season on Saturday morning with a time of 1m52.538s, more than four-tenths of a second ahead of Anthony Jurado (Rangoni Corse) and David Pouget (GPA Racing). Alex Lancellotti was fourth, while Lorenzo van Riet placed a third Rangoni Corse Clio Cup in the top five.

Despite an imperfect start, the poleman retained the lead thanks to slight contact between David Pouget and Anthony Jurado. Alex Lancellotti took advantage to slot in between the two before the safety car intervened after the accident causing the retirement of Quinto Stefana (Milan Compétition) and Guillaume Maio (GM Sport). Gabriele Torelli pulled slightly clear of the chasing group led by David Pouget on the restart, while Anthony Jurado got past Alex Lancellotti before applying pressure on his compatriot. Meanwhile, Nicolas Milan started tenth and made a series of overtakes to move up to fifth.

Gabriele Torelli then made the most of the duel between David Pouget and Anthony Jurado to control the race, claim his second win of the year and take the Clio Cup Series lead. David Pouget held on to second place ahead of Anthony Jurado. The battle for fourth place went in Nicolas Milan’s favour, despite the fightback from Alex Lancellotti, who won in the Challengers category. Sixth-placed Lorenzo van Riet was followed by Mattia Lancellotti (MC Motortecnica), Giacomo Trebbi (MC Motortecnica) and Damiano Puccetti, first among the Juniors. Gentleman category winner Cristian Ricciarini completed the top ten after of a final lap marked by the accident between Sandro Cutini (Faro Racing) and Nava (MC Motorsport).

Race 2 : Torelli deja vu on home soil

David Pouget claimed his maiden pole of the year in Sunday’s qualifying ahead of Anthony Jurado and Gabriele Torelli. Junior Alejandro Schimpf (AST Competition) and Challenger Alex Lancellotti completed the top five on the grid.

Although the hierarchy remained unchanged initially, Anthony Jurado quickly went on the offensive to take the lead from David Pouget. Gabriele Torelli was nest to pass the poleman as well. Behind the leading trio, Damiano Puccetti got the better of Alejandro Schimpf and Alex Lancellotti before a safety car period as Andrea Chierichetti (MC Motortecnica) retired after an accident.

Anthony Jurado kept the lead on the restart before coming under increasing pressure from Gabriele Torelli and David Pouget. The battle for victory had its first turning point on lap ten when the leader made a mistake which his two rivals exploited. David Pouget attacked Gabriele Torelli two laps later, but the Italian successfully defended his position. Anthony Jurado tried to take advantage, but he lost control at the exterior of the final corner before his car collided with his rival’s.

Gabriele Torelli sealed his second weekend victory ahead of Nicolas Milan, who climbed from twelfth on the grid. The podium was completed by Damiano Puccetti, Junior category winner in what is his best overall result. Alejandro Schimpf was fourth, ahead of Cristian Ricciarini, again a winner in the Gentlemen category, and his twin brother Adrián Schimpf (AST Competition). Mattia Lancellotti was seventh and first Challenger in a lively field throughout the race, beating Jordi Palomeras (Milan Compétition) and Giacomo Trebbi, who was born just a few kilometres from the circuit. Mickaël Carrée (T2CM) rounded out the top ten.

CLIO CUP SERIES

Gabriele Torelli, the first driver to win three races this season, now tops the Clio Cup Series ahead of the French trio of Nicolas Milan, Anthony Jurado and David Pouget. Third on Sunday with a brace of wins in his category, teammate Damiano Puccetti takes the lead in the Junior class by one point from Jack Byrne (GPA Racing). Meanwhile, Lorenzo van Riet and Guillaume Maio (GM Sport) shared the honours in the Challengers category, where the Dutchman retook the top spot from his French rival by three points. Gentlemen class leader Mickaël Carrée scored another double win.

CLIO CUP ESPAÑA

Clio Cup España leader Damiano Puccetti’s two wins ahead of Alejandro Schimpf does his title hopes a world of good. With three wins from six races this season, the Italian now has a 62-point lead over the Spaniard and could seal the deal at the next round at Spa. Andrea Chierichetti and Samuel Chaligne (T2CM) each leave Misano with a podium finish overall and a victory in the Gentlemen category. The Frenchman takes command of the class ahead of the Italian and could also secure the crown at the Belgian round of the calendar.

CLIO CUP ITALIA

Misano hosted the kick-off to the Clio Cup Italia season, with Anthony Jurado taking victory on Saturday and Cristian Ricciarini on Sunday. The Italian, who won Clio Cup Italia in 2009 and 2016, leaves Misano at the top of the general classification ahead of Mattia Lancellotti, twice third this weekend, and Giacomo Trebbi. The Essecorse driver also claimed a pair of wins in the Gentlemen category to build up a 20-point lead over the chase group led by Andrea Cordini (Essecorse) and David Pajot (Vic’Team). Meanwhile, Leonardo Arduini and Adrián Schimpf shared the honours among the Juniors, as did Alex and Mattia Lancellotti among the Challengers. Leonardo Arduini and Mattia Lancellotti will head to Spa in the lead of their respective categories.

The Clio Cup Series will conclude the first half of its season at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in less than two weeks. 57 competitors are expected to take to the Belgian track for the fifth of nine rounds. The meeting will also host round four of Clio Cup España and rounds two of Clio Cup Italia and Clio Cup Mid-Europe from 30 May to 2 June.

Full results - Clio Cup Series - Clio Cup España - Clio Cup Italia