27/09/2009: Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy: double success for Tavano at Mugello

Sicily's Salvatore Tavano dominated throughout the fifth round of the Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy, held at the circuit of Mugello. Tavano won both the two races, also posting the fastest lap time, thus scoring maximum points for the championship. He won the two legs ahead of Veneto's Nicola Baldan, boosting his chances of winning the Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy. The two are separated by 32 points in the standings with two races to go, scheduled for 11 October at Vallelunga.

In the Under 23 category, Tobias Tauber won Race 1 and very young 17-year old Simone Monforte won Race 2, while Alex Campani, who was leading the standings before the event at Mugello, was forced into retirement after he was involved in an accident during Race 2. The race at Vallelunga will therefore be decisive for the awarding of the title in this category too, with three drivers still in contention: Taubert, Campani and Monforte.

The Abarth 500 Assetto Corses have provided a great and action-packed show, including several incidents with no consequences for the drivers.

In the first race, Tavano made a good start from pole-position, followed closely by Baldan. At the first braking, Paolo Scudieri, Gianluca Caporali and Alessandro Maneo were eliminated in a pile-up involving several drivers. As the race continued, the two leading drivers were keeping a good distance from each other, while a tight fight for fifth place developed between Alan Simoni and Andrea Rizzoli, lasting until the very last moment.

Tavano made another good start in Race 2, tailed by Baldan. A collision between Campani and Rizzoli, who rolled in the Scarperia turn, caused the safety car to be deployed for two laps. When the race resumed, Tavano and Baldan were still first and second, while a fierce fight for third place sparked off between Francesco Iorio and Simone Di Luca. They finally caught up with Baldan, breathing down his neck, but this one defended his second place. Motomondiale TV show presenter Guido Meda slid off the track in the last turn while he was 15th overall.

Race 1 classification:
1. Salvatore Tavano, 8 laps in 18min23.315s - average speed 136.911kph;
2. Nicola Baldan + 1.594s;
3. Francesco Iorio + 6.189s;
4. Simone Di Luca + 7.847s;
5. Andrea Rizzoli + 15.343s;
6. Alan Simoni + 15.657s;
7. Tobias Tauber + 24.482s;
8. Franco Cimarelli + 29.776s;
9. Andrea Carboni + 35.723s;
10. Giuseppe Casillo + 37.713s.

Fastest lap by Salvatore Tavano in 2min14.128s - average speed 140.775kph.

Race 2 classification:
1. Salvatore Tavano, 8 laps in 23min07.304s - average speed 108.884kph;
2. Nicola Baldan + 2.498s;
3. Francesco Iorio + 2.771s;
4. Simone Di Luca + 3.064s;
5. Franco Cimarelli + 6.638s;
6. Andrea Simoni + 6.791s;
7. Simone Monforte + 13.510s;
8. Tobias Tauber + 13.792s;
9. Manuel Lasagni + 17.317s;
10. Davide Stancheris + 22.328s.

Fastest lap by Salvatore Tavano in 2min14.576s - average speed 140.307kph.

Abarth 500-Selenia Trophy standings:
1. Salvatore Tavano 202 points;
2 Nicola Baldan 170;
3. Francesco Iorio 86;
4. Andrea Rizzoli 80;
5. Manuel Villa 79.

Under 23 standings:
1. Tobias Tauber 172 points;
2. Alex Campani 151;
3. Simone Monforte 143;
4. Gabriele Larini 112;
5. Patrik Gobbo 100.