After the first round in Vallelunga and the second race at the superb Mugello track during the Italian round of the DTM, the Italian Superstars Championship and International Series will continue their season at the fast Monza track.

At Monza, the meeting will take on a special meaning for promoters FGSport : the Brienza track will see the Superstars twinned with the prestigious FIA GT Championship.

As always, there are great expectations and some important news for Superstars: Monza will see the new Zakspeed-Chrysler 300C SRT8 and the Cadillac CTS-V, which made their debut at Vallelunga, back on track.

There will also be a second track test for the long-awaited Mercedes C63 AMG, entered by the Speedstar Team. The new, powerful German sedan had its first laps during the Tuscan weekend, but teething troubles meant that the team, led by Piero Giromini and experienced driver Max Pigoli, were unable to fully demonstrate the potential of the Mercedes. At Monza it is sure to be fast and competitive!

After the Vallelunga and Mugello rounds, rookie driver Stefano Gabellino, at the wheel of Caal Racing team BMW 550i, is leading both championships, having claimed second at Vallelunga and the win in Mugello, with one pole position. The former Formula One driver and reigning Champion Gianni Morbidelli is second in the Italian Championship classification.

Former downhill skier Kristian Ghedina, racing this year for the Millenium Team, is third with his BMW 550i, and second in the International Series. 21-yearold Davide Rigon, from Veneto, made his debut in Mugello, with an excellent second-fastest in qualifying and third place in the race, in a Ferlito Motors Jaguar S-Type R. For Monza race the two Jaguars will be in the hands of Stefano Bonello and Ermanno Dioniso.

The Audis are very fast in all occasions, and three will be in action at Monza. In addition to the RS-4 entrusted to Gianni Morbidelli and the second official car driver by Giorgio Sanna from Rome, Steven Goldstein’s "red" Audi RS-4 will also be at the start.

As usual, there will be plenty of BMW M5s in action, including Caal Racing with Moreno Petrini, Leonardo Baccarelli and Roberto Papini, Gass Racing with Alessandro Battaglin, and Lanza Motorsport team with Maurizio Strada.

- Jacquie GROOM, FIA -