The BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy competes in the colors of Pinetti Motorsport right from the first round of the season, held at the Misano World Circuit last weekend, with the Colorno team’s flag bearers at the helm of the series.
Marco Zanasi made his ambitions clear and put himself on the short list of title contenders with a masterful performance. He almost achieved pole position and success in the first race, finishing second at the checkered flag and then dominating the entire second day of battle.
The driver from Maranello, who took the lead in the provisional overall standings, set the fastest lap.
Alongside him was a remarkable Victor Briselli in the second BMW M2 CS Racing of the Parma racing team on the way to the Hankook Trophy at the top of the podium.
The rider from Castelnovo Monti loudly signed an agreement that makes him wear the clothes of the hare to be hunted at the end of a weekend.
“We started off on the right foot,” says Andrea Belicchi (Pinetti Motorsport trainer), “because if there hadn’t been a difference in the tires and the joker rule hadn’t been used, Zanasi would have dominated the first race as well.” Everything went well smoothly and only the safety car in the second race put him under some pressure. Cold-blooded and took home the win and the championship lead, which despite being level on points keeps him in the lead thanks to the fastest laps. Great weekend for Briselli, who confirmed himself as a race animal after a somewhat dodgy qualifying session. He handled the pressure well during the fighting phases and emerged victorious from the Hankook Trophy. Good boy.”
Third among the U26s in the championship and the author of a brilliant weekend was Emma Segattini.
The driver from Verona was always in the absolute top ten and took a good eighth place in the first race and second place in the second race, taking eighth place in the overall standings.
“Emma was wonderful,” adds Belicchi, “because despite some testing, she manages to grow a lot over the race weekends.” After an interesting eighth place in qualifying, she slowed down in race one due to a loss of grip, but managed a great overtaking manoeuvre her to retake the position. In the second race it was incredible and it didn’t take long to conquer the third group which included the defending champions Ferrara. He showed absolute podium speed and flew when the others had a tire crisis. After three quarters of the race it was the second or third fastest car on the track. An incredible result. Shame about the last error under the safety car, which saw her spin while trying to keep the tires warm. A little bitterness remains, but what potential.”
Misano is instead forgotten by the other two flag-bearers Giovanni Stefanin and Nicola Tagliapietra.
The Milan rider, who set a good pace in free practice, failed to make the most of the new tire in qualifying, ending up on the edge of the top ten and getting caught in a chase.
In the first race, the new team-mate from Sarteano spun after a promising winter session with Stefanin, who caused the fatal contact as a passenger in the car.
In the second race, the Milanese cornered Briselli and sparked a heated battle with overtakes and position changes at the head of the Hankook, but a touch with a railing caused the suspension to buckle, the wheel to fall off and the Hankook to be raised the white flag .
The same fate befell the Sienese who, despite the miracles the team performed during the night to allow the start of the second challenge, retired his CS Racing BMW M2 on the first lap after an axle shaft failed.
“Misano must be canceled at least partially for Stefanin and Tagliapietra,” concludes Belicchi, “because the former showed in the fight with Briselli that he has what it takes to do well, while the latter despite the spin in the race 1 in which he then compromised on the chassis for race 2 as well, he showed us incredible pace over the winter, so we’re confident.”
