Andrea Bertolini doubles up at Donington

Andrea Bertolini became the second driver to take a double victory in the International Superstars Series, as Luigi Ferrara became the new series leader. Bertolini led almost the entire race, to take a comfortable win from Ferrara and Maserati teammate Alessandro Pier Guidi. Former Series leader Thomas Biagi slips to second in the standings, after falling down the order to ninth on an action packed last lap.

Bertolini jumped fellow front row starter Alberto Cerqui into Redgate on lap one, with the Maserati driver narrowly avoiding being eliminated at the opening corner as Ferrara locked his brakes spectacularly from the rolling start.

Hotly tipped by his fellow drivers to take the win, Johnny Herbert also demoted Cerqui at Redgate, but received a tap to his rear from the BMW driver sending his Romeo Ferraris Mercedes spinning onto the infield and down to 17th.

This provoked an entertaining drive back through the field for the Brit, steadily making progress on each tour to an eventual finish of sixth.

Also turned round on the first lap was Christian Montanari, with the Sammarinese also coming back through the field to take fifth after being punted into a spin by Biagi at the Melbourne hairpin.

With trouble kicking off behind, Bertolini pulled clear, and despite the 30 kilogrammes of ballast was able to build a steady advantage over Ferrara.

Behind the Mercedes came Cerqui, Pier Guidi and Biagi, with the quartet making a four car train for much of the race. As the foursome quarrelled they were caught by Max Pigoli, Montanari and Herbert with a handful of laps left.

With Biagi attacking teammate Cerqui, Ferrara was left with some breathing space ahead, as the championship leader pulled off an impressive pass, running side-by-side with Cerqui down the pit straight before going around the outside of his colleague at Redgate.

A lap later Pigoli too passed Cerqui, giving the BMW a helpful tap as they exited Goddards side-by-side, allowing Montanari to move up too. Ahead Pier Guidi was taking some entertaining lines through the Esses to keep Biagi behind, as the BMW driver looked to get onto Ferrara’s tail to preserve his championship lead.

Exiting Goddards with a lap to go, Montanari and Pigoli both got past Biagi as he run wide entering the corner, with Herbert then moving up a spot at Melbourne, biffing the BMW with the rear of his Mercedes as they slid out of the hairpin. Cerqui followed through and as Biagi tried to lunge back past at Goddards he spun, allowing Fabrzio Armetta into eighth.