1997 Italian Superturismo Championship

The 1997 Italian Superturismo Championship was the eleventh edition of the Italian Superturismo Championship. The season began in Monza on 20 April and finished in Vallelunga on 12 October, after ten rounds.

Emanuele Naspetti and his BMW 320i dominated since the begin of the season achieving an impressive score of 18 podiums (10 victories, 7 seconds and 1 third place) on a total of 20 races.

Naspetti lead the standing since the first round and he won the championship after the first race of 8th round in Varano de Melegari with still 5 races to do; the BMW won the constructors' championship, while Massimo Pigoli took the privateers' trophy in his BMW 320i.

Fabrizio Giovanardi on the wheel of old Alfa Romeo 155 was the main contender with 5 victories but due to a bad start with 4 DNF in the first 8 races, he was not able to fight for the title until the end of the season.

The 1996 Italian Champion Rinaldo Capello and his Audi A4 Quattro were not competitive after FIA decided that Audi had to carry 30kg extra and had to move to FWD from the season 1998.

For these reasons Audi stopped the development of the 4WD and only in wet conditions was Capello able to get a double victory in Varano and one more victory at the slowest track in Binetto.

Beside the top three drivers the championship was animated by the 2 rookies Fabrizio De Simone, Karl Wendlinger, by the return of Antonio Tamburini and by the independent driver Roberto Colciago. Unlike from the previous year, in 1997 it was removed the rules that counted only the 16 best results so all points were valid for the final standing.

Teams and drivers[edit]

Team Car No. Drivers Rounds Class
Italy Audi Sport Italia Audi A4 Quattro 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello All
2 Austria Karl Wendlinger All
Italy CiBiEmme Engineering BMW 320i 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti All
4 Italy Fabrizio de Simone All
Italy Nordauto Engineering Alfa Romeo 155 TS 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi All
6 Italy Gordon de Adamich 1
Italy Antonio Tamburini 2-10
Italy EC Motorsport Honda Accord 21 Italy Roberto Colciago 1-7, 9-10 I
Italy Effe Touring Ford Mondeo 22 Italy Maurizio Flammini 4 I
Italy Soli Racing Team Alfa Romeo 155 TS 52 Italy Moreno Soli All P
Italy Christy's Team BMW 320i 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli All P
Italy Varese Corse Alfa Romeo 155 TS 54 Italy Augusto Rossetti 1, 8-10 P
Italy Fabio Severino 9-10 P
55 Italy Davide Bernasconi All P
Italy Tecnica Racing Team Alfa Romeo 155 TS 56 Italy Felice Tedeschi 1-4 P
57 Italy Sandro Montani 1-5, 8-10 P
Italy Tecno Racing BMW 320i 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi 1-2, 5, 7-10 P
Italy Stefano Gabellini 1-2, 4-5, 7-10 P
Italy Promo Racing Alfa Romeo 155 TS 59 Italy Lorenzo Falessi 1-3, 5, 10 P
Italy Romano Racing Opel Vectra Gt 61 Italy Emanuele Moncini 6 P
Italy Greyhound Motorsport Ford Mondeo 63 Italy Gianluca Roda 1 P
Opel Vectra 16v 2-10 P
Italy Romano Racing Opel Vectra Gt 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli 1-5, 8-10 P
Italy Scuderia Giudici Alfa Romeo 155 TS 65 Italy Gianni Giudici 9 P
Italy Capannelle Racing Opel Vectra 67 Italy Sergio Sambataro 10 P
Icon Class
I Not eligible to score points in the Manufactures Trophy
P Private Drivers

Drivers changes[edit]

Changed Cars

Entering Superturismo 1997

Leaving Superturismo 1997

Race calendar and results[edit]

Round Circuit Date Pole Position Fastest Lap Winning Driver Winning Team
1 R1 Italy Autodromo Nazionale Monza 20 April Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
2 R1 Italy Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello 4 May Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
3 R1 Italy Autodromo di Magione 18 May Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
4 R1 Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari 8 June Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
R2 Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
5 R1 Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari 22 June Italy Antonio Tamburini Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy Antonio Tamburini Italy Nordauto Engineering
R2 Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
6 R1 Italy Autodromo del Levante 6 July Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
7 R1 Italy Autodromo di Pergusa 31 August Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
8 R1 Italy Autodromo Riccardo Paletti 14 September Italy Antonio Tamburini Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
R2 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Rinaldo Capello Italy Audi Sport Italia
9 R1 Italy Circuito Internazionale Misano 28 September Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy Emanuele Naspetti Italy CiBiEmme Engineering
10 R1 Italy ACI Vallelunga Circuit 12 October Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Nordauto Engineering
R2 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Italy Fabrizio de Simone Italy CiBiEmme Engineering

Round 1 Italy Monza [edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.53.148 SP
2 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.53.264 SP
3 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.53.627 SP
4 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.53.665 SP
5 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.54.197 SP
6 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.54.702 SP
7 6 Italy Gordon De Adamich Alfa Romeo 155 1.56.258 SP
8 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 1.57.203 SP
9 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 1.59.714 SP
10 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 320i 2.02.275 SP
Italy Stefano Gabellini
11 54 Italy Augusto Rossetti Alfa Romeo 155 1.59.477
12 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.59.708
13 56 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 2.01.010
14 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Ford Mondeo 2.01.526
15 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.912
16 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.562
17 59 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.912

Championship standings after Round 1[edit]

Round 2 Italy Mugello[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.137 SP
2 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.57.496 SP
3 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.57.527 SP
4 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.967 SP
5 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.58.235 SP
6 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.58.758 SP
7 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.59.624 SP
8 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 2.02.479 SP
9 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 2.02.941 SP
10 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.991 SP
11 56 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.107
12 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 2.01.526
13 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 320i 2.02.793
Italy Stefano Gabellini
14 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.495
15 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.04.893
17 59 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 2.09.555

Championship standings after Round 2[edit]

Round 3 Italy Magione[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.13.812 SP
2 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.13.951 SP
3 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.14.002 SP
4 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.14.121 SP
5 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.14.592 SP
6 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.14.875 SP
7 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.15.008 SP
8 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 1.15.986 SP
9 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 1.16.763 SP
10 56 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 1.17.718 SP
11 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.16.353
12 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 1.16.589
13 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 1.16.908
14 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.17.685
15 59 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 1.19.200

Championship standings after Round 3[edit]

Round 4 Italy Imola[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.56.993 SP
2 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.397 SP
3 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.57.481 SP
4 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.58.171 SP
5 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.58.394 SP
6 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.58.411 SP
7 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 2.02.537 SP
8 58 Italy Stefano Gabellini BMW 320i 2.02.827 SP
9 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.762 SP
10 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 2.05.243 SP
11 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 2.01.601
12 56 Italy Felice Tedeschi Alfa Romeo 155 2.01.676
13 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.288
14 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.03.870
15 22 Italy Maurizio Flammini Ford Mondeo 2.05.116
16 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord no time

Championship standings after Round 4[edit]


Round 5 Italy Imola[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.001 SP
2 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.57.175 SP
3 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.57.464 SP
4 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.57.495 SP
5 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.57.545 SP
6 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.57.552 SP
7 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.58.767 SP
8 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 2.00.435 SP
9 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 2.01.823 SP
10 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 2.01.860 SP
11 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 2.01.983
12 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 320i 2.02.226
Italy Stefano Gabellini
13 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 2.02.281
14 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 2.04.848
15 59 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 2.06.255

Championship standings after Round 5[edit]

Round 6 Italy Binetto[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 47.526 SP
2 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 47.760 SP
3 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 47.809 SP
4 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 47.935 SP
5 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 47.996 SP
6 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 48.282 SP
7 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 48.343 SP
8 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 49.696 SP
9 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 49.930 SP
10 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 49.987 SP
11 61 Italy Emanuele Moncini Opel Vectra GT 50.183
12 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 50.464

Championship standings after Round 6[edit]

Round 7 Italy Pergusa[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.42.642 SP
2 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.42.965 SP
3 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.43.478 SP
4 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.43.586 SP
5 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.44.554 SP
6 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.44.569 SP
7 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.44.853 SP
8 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 1.47.296 SP
9 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.47.963 SP
10 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 2.11.470 SP
11 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 320i 1.48.604
Italy Stefano Gabellini
12 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.54.380

Championship standings after Round 7[edit]

Round 8 Italy Varano De Melegari[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 48.735 SP
2 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 48.763 SP
3 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 48.796 SP
4 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 48.880 SP
5 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 48.916 SP
6 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 49.100 SP
7 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 50.497 SP
8 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 320i 50.702 SP
Italy Stefano Gabellini
9 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 50.985 SP
10 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 50.993 SP
11 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 50.649
12 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 50.652
13 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 51.433
14 54 Italy Augusto Rossetti Alfa Romeo 155 52.006

Championship standings after Round 8[edit]

Round 9 Italy Misano Adriatico[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.35.804 SP
2 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.35.967 SP
3 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.36.356 SP
4 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.36.395 SP
5 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.37.041 SP
6 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.37.066 SP
7 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.37.115 SP
8 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 1.38.784 SP
9 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 1.40.034 SP
10 58 Italy Stefano Gabellini BMW 320i 1.41.779 SP
Italy Maurizio Lusuardi
11 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 1.38.636
12 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.38.720
13 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 1.38.840
14 65 Italy Gianni Giudici Alfa Romeo 155 1.39.487
15 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.42.471
16 54 Italy Augusto Rossetti Alfa Romeo 155 1.44.156

Championship standings after Round 9[edit]

Round 10 Italy Vallelunga[edit]

Qualifying

Pos No Driver Car Lap Time Super Pole
1 5 Italy Fabrizio Giovanardi Alfa Romeo 155 1.14.512 SP
2 3 Italy Emanuele Naspetti BMW 320i 1.14.970 SP
3 4 Italy Fabrizio De Simone BMW 320i 1.14.972 SP
4 21 Italy Roberto Colciago Honda Accord 1.15.013 SP
5 1 Italy Rinaldo Capello Audi A4 Quattro 1.15.067 SP
6 6 Italy Antonio Tamburini Alfa Romeo 155 1.15.151 SP
7 2 Austria Karl Wendlinger Audi A4 Quattro 1.15.634 SP
8 57 Italy Sandro Montani Alfa Romeo 155 1.18.238 SP
9 63 Italy Gianluca Roda Opel Vectra 16v 1.19.705 SP
10 64 Italy Sandro Sardelli Opel Vectra GT 1.21.928 SP
11 53 Italy Massimo Pigoli BMW 320i 1.19.223
12 58 Italy Maurizio Lusuardi BMW 320i 1.19.227
Italy Stefano Gabellini
13 52 Italy Moreno Soli Alfa Romeo 155 1.19.308
14 59 Italy Lorenzo Falessi Alfa Romeo 155 1.20.170
15 54 Italy Augusto Rossetti Alfa Romeo 155 1.20.456
16 55 Italy Davide Bernasconi Alfa Romeo 155 1.22.123
17 67 Italy Sergio Sambataro Opel Vectra GT 1.47.404