Italian TCR DSG specialist Carlotta Fedeli claimed two more class victories and a third overall in the 'Coppa Italia Turismo' at her home track in Vallelunga, further extending her championship lead with now two rounds to go.
Italian racer Carlotta Fedeli entered the fourth round of the Peroni Promotion 'Coppa Italia Turismo' as the championship leader in the TCR DSG class with a 7-point margin on closest pursuer Alberto Rodio, having secured three wins and five podium finishes out of six races.
With these premises, 29-year old Fedeli knew that she had the chance to further extend her championship lead coming into her home race at Vallelunga, on the hills just outside Rome.
At the wheel of the Audi RS3 LMS operated by RC Motorsport, the fast Italian driver has been dominant in the TCR DSG class – which features TCR cars specially equipped with a Direct-Shift Gearbox – and took victories on the most iconic Italian venues such as Mugello, Misano and Imola.
"Vallelunga is a circuit where I always did well, which is also my home track" – commented Fedeli before the race meeting. "I come into this round knowing that I can really add important points for the championship and I will certainly try to do it."
After issues in the second Misano race, Fedeli's #92 Audi had to be fitted with a brand-new gearbox.
But nothing could stop her, as she completed a perfect weekend and clinched two more TCR DSG class victories and a third place overall among the faster sequential-gearbox TCR cars. In the first race of the weekend, Fedeli took the start from the fifth grid slot and always kept up with the front-runners – never challenged for the DSG class lead. She finished fourth overall, behind Spaniard Ruben Fernandez, Alfredo De Matteo and Federico Borrett.
In a rain-affected race, overall championship leader Mauro Guastamacchia was out on lap 6 after contact.
Fedeli was just as impressive in the second race, when she lined up once again on the third row and started to put pressure on the drivers from the faster class.
In a thrilling race, Saturday's winner Fernandez retired from the lead with five minutes left on the clock - and similar fate awaited Federico Borrett, with two laps to go.
From 18th on the grid, Venezuelan Sergio Lopez took a surprising overall victory, ahead of Adriano Vidosmini and Carlotta Fedeli – once again stepping on the overall podium.
The RC Motorsport's driver had her eyes on the second overall place and finished right on the Hyundai i30's tail, but wisely chose not to take risks, claiming yet another dominant TCR DSG class victory and extending her championship lead to 13 points on Rodio.
Fedeli has now made her way up to third in the overall standings as well, now only 17 points behind 1st division leader Guastamacchia – once again out of the point-paying positions in Race 2.
The Italian Touring Car Cup, promoted by Peroni Race, will now move to Autodromo di Magione, in central Italy, for its fifth and penultimate round of the 2021 season on July 31st and August 1st.
